NORTHERN EUROPE, GARDNER CHAPTER 20-3 PP
FRANCE – MANUSCRIPT PAINTING In the 15 th century French painters built on the achievements of the Gothic painters -> produced exquisitely refined ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS New conception and presentation of space More pronounced characteristics as illusionistic scenes Increased contact with Italy = pictorial principles of classical antiquity = French interest in illusionism 15 th century Flanders = peace and prosperity 15 th century France = the Hundred Years’ War -> crippled economy and political instability
LIMBOURG BROTHERS Limbourg Brothers, January, from Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, , ink on vellum International Gothic Style Full page illustrations contain the months of the year for a BOOK OF HOURS = a book used for reciting of daily prayers from matins to compline The calendar pages from THE VERY RICH HOURS OF THE DUKE OF BERRY are perhaps the most famous in the history of manuscript painting Represent the twelve months in terms of associated seasonal tasks -> alternating scenes of nobility and peasantry
LES TRES RICHES HEURES DU DUC DE BERRY Limbourg Brothers, October, from Tres Heures du Duc de Berry Above each picture is a LUNETTE depicting the Apollo riding a chariot bringing up the sun along with associated zodiac signs Functions as a religious book and captures the power of the duke and his relationship to the peasants Naturalism of details; meticulously rendered castles; cast shadows
JEAN FOUQUET Jean Fouquet, Melun Diptych, Etienne Chevalier and Saint Stephen (left wing), Virgin and Child (right wing), , oil on wood Diptych painted for Etienne Chevalier, treasurer of Charles VII Chevalier depicted with his patron saint -> devout, pious patron kneeling w/hands clasped in prayer Saint Stephen shown w/rock of his martyrdom atop bible ¾ stance and sharp, clear focus Secular on the left and sacred on the right Model for the Virgin was Agnes Sorel, King Charles VII’s mistress
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE - SCULPTURE The Holy Roman Empire = Germany = was not involved in the Hundred Years’ War -> econ remained stable and prosperous Did not have a dominant court culture to commission artworks Patronage came from wealthy merchants and clergy Art of the early “Northern Renaissance” displays pronounced stylistic diversity Some followed developments in Flemish painting Many artists display the power of the lingering Late Gothic style
VEIT STOSS Veit Stoss, Death and Assumption of the Virgin (wings open), altar of the Virgin Mary, Krakow, Poland, painted and gilded wood, almost 24’ Altarpiece for the church of Saint Mary in Krakow -> figures in central panel are 9 feet high On the wings -> scenes from the lives of Christ and Mary Intense piety of the Late Gothic period -> designed to heighten emotion and glorify the sacred event
TILMAN RIEMENSCHNEIDER Tilman Riemenschneider, The Assumption of the Virgin, center panel of the Creglingen altarpiece, Germany, ca, , lindenwood, 6’ wide Tilman Riemenschneider specialized in carving large wooden retables -> his works feature intricate Gothic tracery and religious figures who almost lost within their swirling garments RETABLE = another name for an altarpiece
KONRAD WITZ Konrad Witz, Miraculous Draught of Fish, from the Altarpiece of Saint Peter, Cathedral of Saint Peter, Geneva, Switzerland, 1444, oil on wood One of the most notable 15 th century German altarpieces Exterior wing of a triptych -> Peter, the first pope, trying to emulate Christ and walk on water Significant because of the prominence of the landscape -> study of water effects -> sky glaze on the lake surface; mirrored reflections of the figures in the boat; transparency of the shallow water in the foreground
GRAPHIC ARTS – MICHEL WOLGEMUT Revolution in written communication w/the 1450 invention by Johannes Gutenberg of movable type and the printing press Using a gouging instrument wood blocks are a carved with raised letters -> ridges are inked and hollows remain dry of ink and do not print Michel Wolgemut, Tarvisium, page from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493, woodcut Early example of woodcut illustrations in printed books -> more than 650 pictures include detailed views of towns, but they are generic rather than specific portrayals
WOODCUTS, ENGRAVINGS, AND ETCHINGS PRINT = artwork on paper EDITION = the set of prints created from a single print surface Printmaking involves the transfer of ink from the printing surface to the paper Relief prints -> produced by carving into a surface, usually wood -> subtractive process Intaglio process = artist draws the image onto the plate The paper and ink the artists use affect the finished look of the printed image 15 th and 16 th century -> development of paper from cotton and linen rags Prints can produce multiple copies -> prints can be sold at cheaper prices
MARTIN SCHONGAUER Martin Schongauer, Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons, ca Metal engraving produces an intaglio (incised) surface for printing Marvelous variety of tonal values and textures