1. The Renaissance in the North Germany Netherlands Flanders France England

2. Remember the Plague? Far less farm workers  Less food  Demand for higher wages  Move to cities for artisans jobs Landowning class was weakened Merchants and artisans grew in influence  Less business competition so higher prices  Higher prices meant richer people A new Middle class began Could pay more for artists’ work so they could afford to just “be artists.”

3. The Renaissance in the North The Printing Revolution Johann Gutenberg produces the first complete Bible using a printing press Books are more readily available Printed books are cheaper and easier to produce More people learn to read

5. The Renaissance in the North Flemish Painter Jan van Eyck portrays towns people and religious scenes in realistic detail Artists and Writers The Arnolfini portrait Portrait of a man, 1433

6. The mirror is painted with almost miraculous skill. Its carved frame is inset with ten miniature medallions depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Yet more remarkable is the mirror's reflection, which includes van Eyck's own tiny self- portrait, accompanied by another man who may have been the official witness to the ceremony.

7. Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel uses vibrant colors to portray scenes of peasant life Artists and Writers Netherlandish Proverbs, 1559 The Wedding Feast, the Netherlands, 1568

8. Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens blends realistic tradition of Flemish painters with classical themes of the Italian Renaissance Four Philosophers Artists and Writers Daniel in the Lions’ Den

9. German painter Albrecht Durer applies painting techniques to engraving Artists and Writers

10. DurerWoodcut Dürer exerted a huge influence on the artists especially in print making the medium through which he was best known (his paintings were mainly in private collections located in only a few cities)

11. His Most Famous Woodcut

12. His most fascinating wood cut… A comment on how depressing (melancholic) it was to be creative in a “science” world. Melancholia

13. How “measuring the world has put the artist in a “funk.” Cluttered with measuring instruments. Even though there is wealth, ability to make and do good, everyone is “depressed!” (even the cow!!) To attract positive vibes from astrology, water cress and a Jupiter Square. Durer included the year of painting and his signature…

16. The Humanists Humanists stress education and classical learning to bring religious and moral reform New money from trade and the new printing press made more people want to read Writers began to write not only in the language of the church—Latin—but in vernacular—the common language of the people.

17. Desiderius Erasmus Dutch priest Writer Called for a translation of the Bible into the vernacular Felt people should be open minded and good to one another. Was disturbed by corruption in the Church.

18. Sir Thomas More Friend of Erasmus Was more interested in social reform Wanted to set up an ideal society Everyone would live in harmony No one idle, all educated Justice would end crime It would be called “Utopian”

19. Today a Utopian society means a perfect society. It sounds good, but doesn’t work.

20. Francois Rabelais French priest, doctor, scholar, author Used humor in writing to get across more serious messages of religion and education Questioned the corruption in the Church Book name: Gargantua and Pantagruel

21. What’s-his-name “Greatest” of all English playwrights and poets. vernacular Wrote in the vernacular of the time so was VERY popular 37 plays—still performed Wrote about things everyone identified with o love o family o power o war William Shakespeare

23. Rabelais’ Writings used humor to make his points

24. King Lear We will watch the play King Lear. One of Shakespeare’s great plays about family (and power!!) You will write a summary at the end. A BRIEF description of the story. A list of the most important characters (Lear = father) What you thought the main point was… Do you recommend it…