Chapter 10: Renaissance in the North

10.1 The Low Countries

o Northern Renaissance art is powerfully realistic
o Oil paint, the new medium, produces marvelous color.
o Ordinary objects are used to symbolize religious subjects
o Italian painters used aesthetics and ideals of classical antiquity but northern painters began to direct
with a powerful sense of realism
o Low Countries include Belgium and Holland.
- 1
st
to master oil paint
o Oil Paints: richer color, glowing, could blend colors
o Detailed = hard edged
o Used symbolism to interpret religious subjects, scenes, or everyday life objects
o To pursue a craft, individuals had to belong to the guild that controlled that craft

The Master of Flemalle
o Realism and use of common place setting is shown through Robert Campin 1
st
the exploit oil paints
o Leading painter of the city of Tournai in Flanders (Belgium) but most artist in the low countries had
not signed their names, therefore they are lost.
o Merode Alterpiece - oil on panel
- Early renaissance master piece named because it was in the merode family for many years
- Triptych of the Annunciation scene
- New element = the setting (contemporary Flemish dwelling)
- Donors kneeling set the tone of the painting; take it as reality
- Symbols: spotless room and vase of lilies = Virgins Purity; Mousetrap = catching the Devil
- w/out halos
- tone is different than others + the color scheme is less decorative (subdued hues)

Jan van Eyck
o mastered color and light in his paintings
o fascination with detail
o areas of his paintings are subordinated in order to direct attention to the most important parts
o Great understanding of light (direct and diffused; illusion of distances; and shadows on variety of
surfaces)
o Duke of Burgundy considered him the worlds greatest artist
- Traveled with him.. also to Italy where he met Massacio and others
o Settled in Bruges in Flanders where he signs and dates his works
o The Ghent Alterpiece oil on panel
- Brother started it and he finished it 7 years later
- The two wings are painted on both sides so even when closed, itll be decorated
- The bottom tells The Adoration of the Lamb
- Using the oil paints he makes it glow
- Apostles on the left and saints on the right
- Adam and Eve pictures are the 1
st
life size nudes done
o The Annunciation - Oil on wood, transferred to canvas
- Takes place in a 15
th
century gothic church as if the viewer is watching the scene
- Lots of detail and symbolism: pomegranates = resurrection and hand = submission to the will of
god; dove= holy spirit; floor panels = old testament events
o Arnolfini Portrait oil on panel
- Eycks best known painting
- Reality and unity
- Good light source usage and extreme detail
- Peaches = a sign of fertility
- Much symbolism all around.
- Raised hand and dog = fidelity
- Witnessed this ceremony and therefore he signed his name above the mirror
- Mirror shows him and other people

Rogier van der Weyen
o 3
rd
greatest Flemish painter
o Official painter for the city of Brussels in 1435
o Worked on larger surfaces and had drama and emotion with detailed religious works
o Descent from the Cross Oil of panel
- Painted for a church in Louvain
- Setting is inside and symbolic
- Lights his work carefully and evenly
- Twisting and bending bodies emphasize the strong emotional feeling expressed in each face
- Christ and Mary both have the S-curve
o Portrait of a Lady Oil on Panel
- Exquisite lines and delicate shading form the face
- Face is set off by the beautiful white coif placed against a dark background

Hans Memling
o Born in Germany
o Studied under van der Weyen
o Works were serene, but sometimes confused with van Eyck
o Madonna and Child with Angels Oil on panel
- Composition is symmetrically balanced
- Very natural movements of a child shown
- Textual detail of various fabrics
- Rounded gothic arch
Hieronymus Bosch
o Dutch painter with a big imagination
o Weird images and puzzling symbols
o Tiny people, mostly naked, and many activities.
o Garden of Delights Oil on Panel
- Symbolism and complexity
- The Garden of Eden
- Intro Adam and eve
- The Garden of Satan
- Nightmare and indescribable torture
- His idea of hell
- Light pink naked figures
- Left panel shows gods beauty; middle panel depicts humanitys constant search to satisfy its
earthly desires with overindulgence and sin; which lead to hell (right panel)
- Pessimistic look at humanity with no chance of salvation shown

Pieter Bruegel
o Most highly acclaimed low country master of the 16
th
century
o 4 year Italy trip changed his outlook on painting
o Larger figures have the monumentality of Giotto or Massacio
o Tower of Babel Oil on Oakwood
- Story behind it: according to old testament, people of Mesopotamia attempted to build tower
that reached to heaven, but pride of people became so great that god could not tolerate it and
confused their languages
- Bruegel invented a huge round structure somewhat like the Roman Colosseum
o Return of the Hunters Oil and tempera on panel
- Silent cold crisp winter depicting the seasons of the year
- Alpine peaks in which he observed in his Italian trip is shown in the distance
- Strong depth b/c bird flying in intervening space
- Trees help unite the foreground
- Humans and nature are bound together as a working unit





























10.3 England, France, and Spain
o Music and literature were more dominant than art in England
o Although the flourishing of music and literature wasnt matched in the visual arts
o In France, architecture experiences tremendous growth
o Important French artists: Jean Fouquet and Jean Clouet
o Francis I and the aristocracy built a group of opulent Chateaux in the Loire River Valley
o Square Court in the Louvre was the 1
st
French renaissance building
o The great wealth of Hapsburg Spain attracts artists and Phillip II builds his greatest monument, El
Escorial; had the greatest artist build
o Spain = wealthy

El Escorial
o Spain was dominant in Europe and wealthy, b/c of this the artists flourished
o Disdained the classical ideas of proportion and purity
o El Escorial Near Madrid (8
th
Wonder of the World)
- Constructed for Phillip II of Hapsburg
- Main architect was Juan de Herrera, but king had a lot to do with designed
- Phillip II wanted control over every building undertaken during reign
- It is a palace and court with a church
- Expressed the Catholic spirit in Spain and Phillips passion of Catholicism + Personality
- Basilica at its center, and under the alter is Phillip II
- Classical Simplicity, visual balance, mathematical proportions = renaissance planning
- Main entrance in Doric order
- Horizontal element used on the church create weight and mass
- Plainness conveys a starkness and severity

French Painting
o Jean Fouquet most important French artist- painted portraits, religious scenes, and manuscript
illuminations; influenced by Italian art (shown in setting of work below)
o Etienne Chevalier and St. Stephen tempera on wood
- Reflects the Flemish influence
- More secular than religious
o Jean Clouet
- Painted portraits (Francis I)
- failed to reach a stature of major importance

French Architecture
o Chateau of Chambord
- Large central block that has numerous apartments
- Each corner has a rounded tower
- Entire structure has a horizontal feeling
- Up close though, Gothic style roof and vertical element from exterior walls
- Combination of styles; 3 stories are renaissance and roof is gothic
o Square Court of the Louvre Paris (1
st
truly renaissance bldg)
- Designed by Pierre Lescot and Jean Goujon
- French additions to this Italian renaissance idea (Corinthian columns)
- Sculptural details contrast with the Classical forms to produce a carefully balanced faade