THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE Art & Literature
Northern Renaissance Gradual spread northward – France, Low Countries, England, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Scandinavia late 15th – 16th centuries Wealthy patrons in France, Germany, England begin importing Italian Renaissance art and culture
Northern Renaissance Christian Humanists – “ethical way of life” Reform based on Christian ideals Stressed the use of reason rather than the dogma of the RCC Nature of Man – good Expansion of education, literacy Studied Classics - BIBLE
Italian vs. Northern Renaissance More Religious – Christian Humanism Less secular than Italy Printing press C. 1450 Johannes Gutenberg Vernacular
Renaissance Literature Dante – Divine Comedy Petrarch – Father of Humanism Boccaccio – Decameron Castiglione – Courtier Mirondola – On the Dignity of Man Valla – The False Donation of Constantine Machiavelli – The Prince
Dante Alighieri The Divine Comedy (printed 1555) (1265-1321) Literary masterpiece Written in Vernacular Epic poem – imaginary trip through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven Guide Roman Poet Virgil
Francesco Petrarch 1304-1374 Italian Father of Humanism “new learning” Literary culture – anyone who was considered educated and civilized Sonnets – romantic love, appreciation of nature
Giovanni Boccaccio 1313-1375 The Decameron Italian Humanist Description of the Black Death Portrays acquisitive, sensual, and worldly society Does not condemn the enjoyment or accumulation of wealth
Baldassare Castiglione 1478-1529 Italian Humanist The Courtier Defined the ideal Renaissance Man Man who could compose a sonnet, wrestle, sing, play an instrument, ride expertly, solve mathematical problems, and above all speak and write eloquently
Pico della Mirandola 1463-1494 Oration of the Dignity of Man Italian Humanist Man’s place b/w the beasts and angels, because he was made in the image of Adam – no limits to what he can accomplish
Lorenzo Valla 1407-1457 Italian Humanist The False Donation of Constantine Donation of Constantine – forgery written in 8th century not 4th century Linguist, studied grammar and rhetoric Father of modern historical criticism
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527) Italian Diplomat Held a number of political positions in Florence 14 years – diplomatic missions to foreign nations Met Cesare Borgia (son of Pope Alexander VI) 1512 Spain invade Florence – Machiavelli exiled 1513 The Prince – short political treatise Dedicated to Lorenzo de Medici – wanted to regain a political position in the Florentine gov’t
Northern Renaissance Literature Erasmus Praise of Folly Sir Thomas More Utopia William Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet Hamlet Macbeth
ERASMUS 1466?-1536 Dutch Praise of Folly Education key to reform Satire – criticizes RCC Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched
Sir Thomas More 1478-1535 Utopia – 1516 “nowhere” English Ideal community on an imaginary island Protested abuses of contemporary society
Northern Renaissance Art OPTIC Observe? Parts? Title? Interpretations? Conclusions?
Jan Van Eyck 1385-1441 Flemish The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) 32.4 x 23.6 National Gallery, London Oil on Canvas Compare to Italian Renaissance?
Albrecht Dürer German 1471-1528 Self-Portrait (1500) Woodcutter, engraver, painter, mathematician
Albrecht Dürer The Last Supper (1510) German Wood cut
Hans Holbein German born - England Portrait of Erasmus (1523) Portrait of Thomas More (1527) Portrait of Henry VIII (1536)
Heironymus “Jerome Bosch” The Low Countries (Netherlands) Death and The Miser (1510) The Last Judgment (1500’s) Garden of Earthly Delights (1500) Compare/Contrast?
EL GRECO Spain “The Greek” (1541-1614) Born island of Crete Move to Spain 1577 View of Toledo (1597-1599) The Holy Trinity (1577-1579)
Northern Renaissance Knowledge of the Classics Christian Ethics, A Unified Peaceful Christendom Reform and Improve society through Reason and Education Erasmus, Thomas More Criticism of the Church laid the foundation for Protestant Reformation