Studying the period of Renaissance (having been inspired by the beauty of its heart - Florence) I was a bit struck by the palette of color (to be more precise – by its absence) and by blurring of lines while getting acquainted recently with the works of the Holland artists at the exhibition. I decided to study the issue in more detail. Now I have the privilege to share with you some findings. Differences between the Italian an Northern Renaissance The Renaissance was a period of great cultural and technological changes which swept Europe from the end of the 13th century. It was integral in developing Europe into a powerhouse. Although, each part of Europe was subjected to different changes, there were two primary renaissances which were most notable. They were the Italian and the Northern renaissance. Both of these renaissances had a profound impact on Europe. But they also had some typical differences among them and each was unique in its own way. The opening phase of renaissance was started by the Italian renaissance. It was a period of great cultural changes and achievement throughout Europe (13-17 centuries). It marked the transition of Europe from the medieval period to the Early Modern Europe. The word renaissance (Rinascimento in Italian) means “rebirth”, and the era is best known for the renewed interest in the culture of classical antiquity after the period that Renaissance humanists labeled the Dark Ages. These changes, while significant, were concentrated in the elite, and for the vast majority of the population life was little changed from the Middle Ages. The main themes of the Italian Renaissance were art (Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli,Leonardo da Vinci), music and literature (Boccaccio, Machiavelli). The Northern Renaissance is the term used to describe the Renaissance in northern Europe, or more broadly in Europe outside Italy (German Renaissance, Renaissance in the Netherlands, French Renaissance…). It is important to know that Northern Renaissance started a bit later than Italian one. In France, King Francis I imported Italian art, commissioned Italian artists (including Leonardo da Vinci), and built grand palaces at great expense, beginning the French Renaissance. Trade and commerce in cities like Bruges in the 15th century and Antwerp in the 16th increased cultural exchange between Italy and the Low Countries, however in art, and especially architecture, late Gothic influences remained present until the arrival of Baroque even as painters increasingly drew on Italian models. In some areas the Northern Renaissance was distinct from the Italian Renaissance in its centralization of political power. Basically, the Northern Renaissance took place in areas of Eastern Europe (like the Netherlands). During this time, there was an emphasis on daily life--the lives of peasants. A greater emphasis was put on living simple life (Ex.Peter Brugal the elder; Rogier van der Weyden) Religious element was much stronger than that of the Italian Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance, on the other hand, focused more on the wealthy class (aristocracy). Paintings were elaborate, detailed, and showed how wealthy and powerful people were. Popes were wealthy, king-like figures in society and they were often painted in elaborate settings. The north had fewer centers of free commerce than did Italy. Italy, had numerous Duchies and Republics which gave rise to a wealthy merchant class that often spent considerable funds on art. This wasnt the case in the north. In fact, the only notable similarity between northern Europe and, say, a place like Florence, lay in the Duchy of Burgundy. Burgundy, until 1477, encompassed a territory from present-day middle France northward (in an arc) to the sea, and included Flanders (in modern Belgium) and parts of the current Netherlands. The Burgundian Dukes were excellent patrons of the arts, but the art they sponsored was different from that of their Italian counterparts. Their interests were along the lines of illuminated manuscripts, tapestries and furnishings (they owned quite a few castles, these Dukes). Things were different in Italy, where patrons were more keen on paintings, sculpture and architecture. Additionally, Renaissance artists in the north took a different approach to composition than did Italian artists. Where an Italian artist was apt to consider scientific principles behind composition (i.e., proportion, anatomy, perspective), northern artists were more concerned with what their art looked like. The more detail a northern artist could cram into a piece, the happier he was. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE : Subject Matter: Classical mythology, religious scenes (mainly what is good). Style: Symmetrical, balanced, good sense of mass, linear perspective, more colourful. Known for: Figures with mass and volume, knowledge of underlying anatomy . Media: Fresco,tempera,oil,marble sculptures . Example: Michelangelo, Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel ceiling. NORTHERN RENAISSANCE : Subject matter:Domestic interiors, portraits, religious scenes (mainly disclosure of sins of people-Ex. H. Bosch). Style:Attention to surface detail, naturalism ,grey colours dominance). Known for:Minute surface detail . Media:Oil on panel , wood sculptures. Example:Hieronymus Bosch “The 7 deadly sins and the 4last things”,”The Garden of earthly delights”.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:22:54 +0000
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