Objectives  Describe the new kind of portraiture that emerges during the early Renaissance.  Contrast the developments in sculpture and architecture in Italy and in Northern Europe.  Describe new techniques in painting and printmaking that become important during the Renaissance.

Things to Know for  The differences between the two cultures:  ITALY  change was inspired by humanism (emphasis on past)  NORTHERN EUROPE  change driven by religious reform (Reformation), Christian values, extension of Gothic art. Interest in symbolism, realism & naturalism  Women painters have higher status  More emphasis on middle-class and peasant life.  Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders (adopted in Italy) NORTHERN RENAISSANCE

Historical Background  New middle class from personal wealth instead of inherited wealth  Many Art Patrons  Focus on Humanism  Extended Education  Led to the Protestant Reformation

…Continued  Burgundy = Central France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands  Intuitive Perspective  Approximating the appearance of things growing smaller and closer together in the distance  Atmospheric Perspective  Applied to landscape scenes based on observation that distant elements appear less distinct and less colorful than things close by

 Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and Flight into Egypt Champmol Altarpiece Melchior Broederlam Oil on Wood Panel

Well of Moses  Life-Size Stone Figures  Old Testament Prophets  Distinct Well of Moses Claus Sluter Limestone

Tres Riches Heures (Very Rich Hours) Limbourg Brothers  Three Brothers: Paul, Herman, and Jean  Entered the service of Duke John Berry  Very Lavish Book of Hours  Selection of prayers and readings  Included both peasant labors and aristocratic pleasures

Women Artists  Typically learned to paint from their relatives  Formal apprenticeships weren’t open to women

 Book of Hours  Pictorial Space – Windows  Mary of Burgundy appears twice  Rosary = Mary’s Devotion  Carnations = Nails of Christ  Iris’ = Mary’s grief Mary at Her Devotions Mary of Burgundy Painter 1482

Fiber Arts  Flemish tapestries  Lavish Details  Finest in Europe  Materials  Wool  Silk  Silver  Gold  Many tapestries didn’t survive the French Rev.  burned to retrieve precious materials

The Unicorn Tapestry  People and animals in a dense field of trees and flowers  Unicorn:  Cloven Hooves  Goat’s Beard  Horn thought to be an antidote to poison  Unicorn became a symbol of the Incarnation of Christ  Killing of the Unicorn equated to Christ’s death

…Continued  Lion  Courage  Stag  Resurrection  Serpent  Evil  Rabbits  Fertility  Dogs  Fidelity

Unicorn At the Fountain Unicorn Tapestry

Painting in Flanders 15 th Cen  Economy based on textiles  Provided $$$ for the arts to flourish  Civic groups, town councils, and wealthy merchants = Patrons  Perfected the technique of oil as a medium

 Center = Annunciation  Symbolizing the Purity and Mission of the Virgin  Book  Extinguished Candle  Towels  Fire Screen  Right =  Joseph setting a mousetrap  Left =  Two donors kneeling  Setting = Flemish Home

Jan Van Eyck  Campin’s contemporary  Traveled on missions for Duke Phillip  Used oil on wood  Applied oil in thin layers that allowed brushstrokes to blend perfectly  Ghent Altarpiece

Ghent Altarpiece  Painted by Jan and Hubert Van Eyck  Polyptych: Many panels  Center  God wearing the crown of Saint Peter  John the Baptist  Virgin Mary  Flanked by musicians and Adam and Eve  Cain and Abel depicted above Eve  Bottom  All saints gather to adore the Lamb of God  Lamb stands on an altar  Blood = Fountain of Life

Ghent Altarpiece (Closed) Jan and Hubert Van Eyck 1432 Oil

Man in Red Turban  “As I Can”  Believed to be a self-portrait of Jan Van Eyck  No religious undertones  Physical appearance seems magnified  Painting in High Def

Man in a Red Turban Jan Van Eyck 1433 Oil on Wood

Arnolfini and his Wife  Suggests a wedding or betrothal  “Jan Van Eyck was present”  Arnolfini is a member of an Italian merchant family living in Flanders  Hold hand of a woman before two witnesses  Symbolism  Dog: Fidelity  Shoes: Holy Ground  Saint Margaret: Childbirth  Oranges: Fertility  Medallions on Mirror: Depictions from the Passion  Candle: God’s All Seeing Eye, and Unity

Arnolfini and his Wife Jan Van Eyck 1434 Oil on Wood

The Deposition  Rogier Van Der Weyden  Altarpiece  Popular theme  Dramatic  Emotional  Jesus in the center

Last Judgment Altarpiece  Painted for a hospital  Archangel Michael dressed in white dominates the center under God  Mary and John at the edge of the rainbow  Barren earth at the bottom  Figures reacting to the Judgment of God  Patrons depicted on the front

The Last Judgment Altarpiece Rogier van der Weyden 1433

Portrait of a Lady Rogier van der Weyden 1455 Oil and Tempera on Wood

A Goldsmith and His Shop  Goldsmith believed to be Saint Eligius  Patron Saint of Metalwork  Goldsmith weighs a jeweled ring as a couple looks on  Double horned headdress fashionable during mid-century  Mirror shows the street outside

A Goldsmith and His Shop Petrus Christus 1449 Oil

Wrongful Execution of the Count  Empress falsely accuses a count of sexual impropriety  Otto has the count beheaded  Countess receives husbands head  Empress is burning at the stake in the background…Karma is a….  Use of atmospheric perspective

Wrongful Exevution of the Count Dirck Bouts Oil on Wood

Justice of Otto III Dirck Bouts Oil on Wood

Portinari Altarpiece  Hugo Van Der Goes  Dean of the painters guild in Ghent  Commissioned by Tommaso Portinari  Head of the Medici bank  Wings contain the Portinari family  Nativity  Glass vessel = Mary’s womb  Blue flowers remind Mary of future sorrows  Scattered violets symbolize humility

Portinari Altarpiece (Open) Hugo van der Goes Oil on Wood

Fouquet Diptych  Jean Fouquet strongly influenced by Flemish realism  Painted a diptych showing Chevalier praying to the Virgin and Child  Nearly grisaille  Saint wears ritual cloth  Large stone on gospel = martyrdom

Etienne Chevalier and Saint Stephen Jean Fouquet 1450 Oil on Wood

Virgin and Child Jean Fouquet 1450 Oil on Wood

Flamboyant Style  Flamboyant = Flaming  Repeated, twisted, flamelike tracery  Elaborate architectural decoration  Themes of nature  Church of Saint-MacLou in Rouen embodies this style

Church of Saint-Maclou, Rouen Pierre Robin Normandy, France

Miraculous Drought of Fishes  Konrad Witz  Largest commission before his early death  Dedicated to Saint Peter  Depicts Jesus’ calling of the fisherman

Miraculous Drought of Fishes Konrad Witz 1444 Oil on Wood