2 Chapter 2 – Northern Renaissance

This Chapter covers art from Northern Europe between about 1400 and 1600. The title ‘Northern Renaissance’ is often applied to describe this place and time in art history. The distinctions of ‘Early’, ‘High’, and ‘Late’ are sometimes used to describe different time-periods of the renaissance. This is more commonly the case when referring to the Italian or Southern renaissance. Typically the Northern Renaissance is just separated by 15th and 16th century.

Art of 15th century northern Europe (the beginnings of the “Northern Renaissance”)

follow the links below to gain an understanding of the following:

• Development of the new medium of oil paint
• Visual characteristics typical of Northern Renaissance art
• Themes and subjects in Northern Renaissance art

Begin by reading this short Kahn Academy article “An introduction to the Northern Renaissance in the fifteenth century”: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-reformation/northern-renaissance1/beginners-guide-northern-renaissance/a/an-introduction-to-the-northern-renaissance-in-the-fifteenth-century

The article found at this link is titled “Early Netherlandish Painting”, from the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. While a bit longer and denser in its writing style, it is very good for learning about the bullet points listed above. The examples listed at the top of the article are also quite helpful for getting a sense of the visual style of northern European paining:  http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/enet/hd_enet.htm

The Merode Altarpiece or Annunciation Triptych, from the workshop of Robert Campin, is a fantastic example of the items listed above. Follow this link to a very short article provided by the Metropolitan Museum of art. By scrolling down a bit you will discover that there is a one and a half minute audio description that is also insightful: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/470304

Jan van Eyck is probably the most renowned artist of 15th century northern Europe. The following three links will feature him and his art.

From the National Gallery website, a short article on van Eyck with several examples of his work:   https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/jan-van-eyck

Four minute video, from London’s National Gallery, on Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait. This is really a fantastic short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM6d9BOj4Ww

This website features super high resolution images of Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece. The zoom feature allows the opportunity to magnify and see close up with phenomenal clarity and detail, perfect for learning about Northern Renaissance art: http://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/#home/sub=altarpiece

Art of 16th century northern Europe

• Hieronymus Bosch – This link takes you to a high-res, interactive, image of The Garden of Earthly Delights triptych (open and closed) with an accompanying audio tour (15 – 20 minutes to complete). Take time to listen to the introductory element at least. The rest of the segments are also fantastic and well worth the time investment: https://tuinderlusten-jheronimusbosch.ntr.nl/en

• Albrecht Dürer, a German artist, was probably the most significant and influential artist of 16th century northern Europe. Follow the links below to get a sense of his many contributions. 
  • Article from the Washington D.C. National Gallery website on Durer’s Melencolia I: https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/durer-melencolia.html
  • 3 minute video on Dürer, Self-portrait (1500): https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-reformation/northern/durer/v/albrecht-d-rer-self-portrait-1500
  • 3 minute video on Durer’s The Large Piece of Turf: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/renaissance-
  • formation/northern/durer/v/albrecht-d-rer-the-large-piece-of-turf-1503

• Pieter Bruegel the Elder
  • 14 minute video, ArtSleuth 10: BRUEGEL – The Harvesters (Metropolitan Museum New York): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyJkYbT88qc&index=2&t=0s&list=LL_GkU-KEinSxBw2tbCcNS_Q

• Hans Holbein the Younger – below are three links. The first two are from the website for the National Gallery in London. The first is to a short bio on the artist. The second is about one of his most known paintings, The Ambassadors. Below the second article is a video lecture – about 38 minute long and optional for this class. The third link is a 9 minute video from a French source.
  • Short article from The National Gallery in London: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/hans-holbein-the-younger
  • Short article on one of his most known works, The Ambassadors: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors
  • 9 minute video, HOLBEIN: The Ambassadors – ArtSleuth – S01 E06: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWlH_FhABo&index=15&list=PLCE31BDAB267650AC&t=0s