Overview
This lecture covers the early Northern European Renaissance, focusing on the transition from symbolic medieval art to mimetic representation, key artists, and the technical innovations that defined the period.
Historical Context of the Early Renaissance
- The Renaissance ("rebirth") followed the devastation of the Black Death (1347), leading to cultural revival and expansion in art and literature.
- Flanders (now part of Belgium and the Netherlands) was a center of artistic innovation during the early Northern Renaissance.
- The region later experienced religious schism resulting in the Protestant Reformation and formation of new sovereign nations.
Shift from Medieval to Renaissance Art
- Medieval art prioritized symbolic images and moral storytelling over realistic (mimetic) depiction.
- Mimisis refers to imitation in art, aiming for realistic, convincing representations of people and objects.
- Early Renaissance artists, like the Van Eyck brothers, shifted toward mimetic, life-like depiction, revolutionizing art.
Key Works and Artists
- Illuminated manuscripts and early Adam and Eve images show limited mimetic intent, focused on teaching Christian morals.
- The Van Eyck brothers excelled at mimetic art, creating figures and scenes that convincingly resembled real people.
- Robert Campin's Merode Altarpiece (triptych) is a key example of detailed, realistic depiction in Northern art.
- Triptychs are three-panel artworks, often used as portable altarpieces in churches.
Artistic Principles and Techniques
- "God is in the details" summarizes the Northern aesthetic: careful, equal attention to every visible detail.
- Artists painted not only significant figures but also mundane objects with extreme precision and realism.
- Absence of linear perspective in early works led to slightly awkward spatial arrangements, later corrected with Italian perspective techniques.
Iconography and Symbolism
- Objects within Northern Renaissance paintings often have symbolic meanings, referencing events in the lives of Christ or the Virgin Mary.
- Donors who financed artworks were often depicted within the scenes, showing their devotion and status.
Innovations and Mediums
- Invention and use of oil paint (notably linseed oil) in Flanders allowed for greater realism, layering, and longer working times.
- Glazing: a technique using multiple thin layers of oil paint to achieve depth and luminosity.
- Southern artists still used tempera (egg yolk-based paint), which dried quickly and limited detail.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Renaissance — cultural "rebirth" after the Black Death, marked by renewed artistic ambition.
- Flanders — region in modern Belgium/Netherlands, key to Northern Renaissance art.
- Mimisis — artistic imitation of the real world; striving for realistic depiction.
- Triptych — artwork in three hinged panels, often used as altarpieces.
- Illuminated manuscript — hand-decorated books, often produced by monks.
- Linear perspective — system for creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface.
- Oil paint — pigment mixed with drying oils, enabling greater detail and slower drying.
- Glazing — painting technique using many transparent layers for rich color and depth.
- Tempera — quick-drying paint made with pigment and egg yolk.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review images of the Merode Altarpiece and Arnolfini Portrait for visual analysis.
- Prepare for next class discussion on differences between Northern and Italian Renaissance art.