The Renaissance in Northern Europe Many new ideas

The Renaissance in Northern Europe

Many new ideas, art styles, and forms of literature spread outward from Italy in a northward direction toward France, the Netherlands, German States, and finally England

Why is it called the Northern European Renaissance • The Northern European Renaissance gets its name from the fact that France, the Netherlands (Holland), and Germany (Holy Roman Empire) were the areas where the significant Art and Literature was produced.

How did the Renaissance Spread to Northern Europe • Many artist traveled to Italy to study under the Master’s such as Leonardo and Michelangelo. – People in Northern Europe were also looking for a way to modernize Literature and art. • Northern European Kings like Francis I of France invited Italian Masters to travel to and live in their countries – Francis I of France invited Leonardo to retire in France and Leonardo lived out his last years there. • It is important to remember, though, that the ideas of the Italian Renaissance were spread largely as a result of the printing press.

How was the Northern Renaissance Artistically Different from the Italian Renaissance • There were fewer artist in Northern Europe and they were scattered about the region. • There were fewer centers of commerce (business) to produce the wealthy merchant class needed to sponsor the artist – The early artist were more dependent on the nobility who had a taste for furniture, tapestry, and illuminated manuscripts • The northern artist were also less interested in the scientific principles like proportion, perspective, and anatomy. They were more concerned with what the painting looked like, so color and detail were the most important considerations. • Sculpture was done in wood rather than marble, mostly because wood was more available as a material. • Because of the damp climate frescos were not done in

Writers of the Northern European Renaissance

Desiderius Erasmus • Dutch scholar • Left monastery to study classics. Used writings of Italian humanists. • *Interested in the early Christian writings and felt that they could be harmonized with the classics. – Argued for return to original, simple message of Jesus. – Felt New Testament church a model of simplistic and spiritual lifestyle. – Criticized ceremony of Catholic church • Wrote The Praise of Folly that made fun of practices of the church.

Thomas More • Friend of Erasmus. • Published Utopia in 1516. – Said governments are corrupt. Private ownership of property caused unnecessary conflicts among people. – Imagined society where everyone equal (all males). Everyone worked to support the society. • Work widely read by Humanist thinkers. • Executed by Henry VIII because refused to admit king the supreme authority of church.

Two Different Philosophies (Cultures) evolve • Italian Renaissance – Inspired by Humanism with a emphasis on the revival of Greek and Roman Classical art and literature. • Northern Renaissance – Driven by the desire for religious reform and the return to ancient Christian values. – Desire to revolt against the authority of the Roman Catholic Church

The Artist of the Northern European Renaissance

Durer • German engraver and artist Albrecht Durer who went to Italy to study the masters. When Durer returned to Germany he produced woodcuts and engravings which became popular and spread the Renaissance style and inspired other artist.

Hans Holbein • Influenced by Durer’s emphasis on realism Hans Holbein began painting portraits that were almost photographic in detail. • Sometimes he would take hours to paint the hair on a mans head so they could be seen a separate strands

Jan van Eyck • In the Netherlands a merchant class began to develop around 1550 and Jan van Eyck started to paint portraits of these wealthy people who shared the same passion for individuality and worldly pleasure that the wealthy merchants of Florence had. • This made Flanders the artistic center of Northern Europe.

Pieter Bruegel • The Work of Pieter Bruegel is considered the high point of the Northern Renaissance painters. He captured pictures of everyday life and used rich colors to express emotion in his pictures

End of the Renaissance • While the Renaissance in Italy and Northern Europe Stirred a burst of creative energy and change, inevitably the taste and fashion of people changed and moved on in the 1600’s in new ways. • However the Renaissance had forever changed the way people viewed the world and introduced the idea individuality. – The Renaissance ideal of the dignity of the individual played a key role in the development of democratic ideas

1300 Renaissance begins 1400 Donatello begins Sculpting in 1475 1434 Cosimo Michelangelo Medici takes born Control of 1492 Florence 1600 Renaissance ends The David 1504 Sistine Chapel 1511 1564 Michelangelo Leonardo da Vinci’s Career Shakespeare Dante’ writes The Divine Comedy 1340’s Petrarch’s Sonnets 1455 Guttenberg Printing Press 1451 -52 Columbus and Leonardo are born Columbus discovers the New World for Spain 1513 Machiavelli Writes the Prince 1550 High point for Flemish portrait painting in Northern Europe Globe Theater Built in London Northern European Renaissance Italian Renaissance 1550 1521 1492 (Copernicus)Scientific Revolution (Martin Luther)Protestant Reformation Age of Exploration 1420 Portugal’s Prince Henry the Navigator Opened his school of sailing 1497 Vasco da 1534 J. Cartier Gama sails to North 1488 Dias India for 1500 Portugal America for sails around Portugal claims Brazil France the tip of Africa for 1498 Cabot 1519 Magellan Portugal explores NE North circles the America for Globe for England Spain 1580 Francis Drake sails around World for England

1300 _____________ Dante’ writes The Divine Comedy 1400 Donatello begins 1475 Michelangelo 1434 _____ born 1492 _____ takes Sculpting in Control of Florence 1340’s Petrarch’s Sonnets 1455 __________ Sistine Chapel 1511 1451 -52 Columbus and Leonardo are born 1600 __________ The David 1504 _______________ 1513 Machiavelli Writes the ____ 1564 1550 High point for Flemish portrait painting in Northern Europe _______ Built in London Northern European Renaissance Italian Renaissance 1550 1521 1492 1420 Portugal’s _____________ Opened his school of sailing (Copernicus)Scientific Revolution (Martin Luther)Protestant Reformation 1497 1534 J. Cartier ______ sails to North 1488 Dias ______ 1500 Portugal America for sails around ______ claims Brazil France the tip of ______ Africa for 1498 Cabot 1519 Magellan Portugal explores North circles the America for Globe for England Spain 1580 Francis Drake sails around World for England