...Contrasting the Northern and Italian Renaissances The Renaissance was one of the world’s most important movements, specifically for culture throughout all European countries. The term renaissance means “rebirth,” which is very significant since this movement was the revival and turning point of change for all art forms specifically art, literature, music, religion along with many other aspects as well. Starting in Italy, the Italian Renaissance was the earliest manifestation of the general European Renaissance. From the Italian Renaissance sprouted the Northern Renaissance, which was the movement that occurred in all European countries after the Italian Renaissance. While both movements hold many similarities, they also have a variety of differences as well. First, the obvious difference between these two movements is the geography of the Northern and Italian Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance relates to all of the happenings in the countries of Northern Europe surrounding Italy. Even though these were two separate movements with many differences, they both held significant similarities due to the close proximity of the countries where the Renaissances took place. Both the Italian and Northern Renaissance followed the era of the Middle Ages. The Italian Renaissance began in the cities of Florence and Siena, and later spread to Venice. The Northern Renaissance is also recognized as the “late gothic” which still held on to Middle Ages art, whereas the Italian Renaissance was fixated...
Words: 495 - Pages: 2
...Italian Renaissance v. Northern Renaissance Christopher Garrett University of Phoenix Renaissance comes from the Latin renasci, which means to be born, or rebirth or revival (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2014). The Renaissance was an era that influenced countries for over 200 years, and transformed culture and religion. Starting toward the end of the 13th century, the renaissance was an integral part of developing countries in both north Europe and Italy. These renaissance periods are the Italian and the Northern renaissance. Even though both renaissances had similarities and made an impact within European countries, they both had differences as well that made them each unique. The Italian Renaissance began at the end of the 13th century and lasted until the beginning of the 1600’s. This period could be considered the transition period between the Middle ages and medieval period to modern Europe. During the Italian Renaissance, humanists labeled the “rebirth” as the Dark Ages. The Italian Renaissance focused more on the common man and everyday realities of life, which heavily influenced the culture and art (Beougher, 2010). The Northern Renaissance was influenced by Italian Renaissance; however, the northern movement carried different characteristics and strengths and affected European countries outside of Italy. During the Northern Renaissance, the north held onto the Gothic art and architecture. The north also had fewer centers of free commerce, unlike in Italy...
Words: 1078 - Pages: 5
...“The French word Renaissance, meaning “rebirth,” was first used in the nineteenth century to describe the period from the early fifteenth century to the middle of the next century” (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, p. 307). The Renaissance not only was a time when scholars became more interested in studying ancient scholars and the world around them but it also had an impact on art forms such as paintings, sculptures and architecture. The social roles and similarities during the Italian and Northern European Renaissance are the flourishing of the arts under powerful and wealthy families such as the Medici’s of Florence and in the north Philip the Good as well as many others. In both Northern and Southern Europe there was a strong desire to reconnect with the ancient past of the Greco/Roman world this desire extended beyond just ideals in art but also to philosophy and politics. The artistic endeavors of both the Northern and Southern Renaissance were dominated by their shared Christian faith, we can see examples of this in Jan Van Eyck’s Ghent “Altar Piece” (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, p. 353) at Saint Bavon Cathedral an ingenious polyptych painting which uses multiple panels to depict a religious scene an exciting blend of the Northern inventive spirit of the age and ancient faith. The works of the Italian Renaissance were also dominated by this Christian outlook possibly the most famous piece of art in the world Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel full of religious imagery while also boldly proclaiming...
Words: 854 - Pages: 4
...Leslie C. Lee HIEU 205 June 23, 2014 Italian and Northern Humanism During the age known as the Renaissance, humanism was a thriving force within Europe. Humanism had a profound impact on how man viewed the role of education and intellectualism within society. Renaissance humanism has been defined as simply a curriculum based upon the study of Greco-Roman classics that affected the culture and man’s point of view. Renaissance humanism was ultimately divided into two branches which came to be known as Civic humanism and Christian humanism which defined differences between Italian humanists and Northern humanists. Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) and Desiderius Erasmus (1469-1536) and their ideals exemplify what separated the two. The contrast between Italian humanism and Northern humanism can be simply stated as one led man away from God, the other drew man closer to God. Education was crucial a factor in the ideals of both Italian and Northern humanists. Classical scholarship was the heart of Italian humanism while Christian scholarship was the chosen education of Northern humanists. The classical Latin language of Cicero was an important part of both scholarship curriculums and both Alberti and Erasmus were fluent in Latin. The differences between scholarships were the exclusion or inclusion of Christian classics. Italian humanists unlike Northern humanists held the idea that the classic Latin language should be the chosen language of the elite. It was a common practice...
Words: 2266 - Pages: 10
...Renaissance and Discovery (pg 317-349) 1) Jacob Burckhardt’s interpretation of the Renaissance in the 14th and 15th century, was that through the revival of ancient learning, new secular and scientific values began to supplant traditional religious beliefs. Some scholars believe that Burckhardt’s description was too modernizing and accused him of overlooking the continuity of the Renaissance and the Middle ages. His critics especially stress the still strongly Christian character of Renaissance humanism. 2) The term of Renaissance in fifteenth and sixteenth- century Italy meant “re-birth” or “revival”. In the 14th century many Italian scholars believed that the arts had been declining in quality for 1,000 years. They admired the art and writing of the Classical Age (400 B.C.-A.D. 400), the time of the Greek and Roman empires. To revive the glory and grandeur of the ancient past, these scholars eagerly studied classical literature, architecture, and sculpture. 3) Renaissance humanism is simply the focusing on the individual and learning. Before the Renaissance, people of Europe focused on the city-states and the knowledge they had attained before not worrying what new knowledge was out there. Then came the Renaissance and brought focus to those things. 4) The Renaissance was a break from the Middle Ages because it brought new ideas and new ways of thinking into society, but without the Middle Ages (medieval civilization), the Renaissance wouldn’t have...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...Pamela Castillo September 16, 2015 Art and Society: Renaissance to Modern Art Art History Paper Assignment 1 The Era of the Italian Renaissance was a time of reawakening of the Renaissance man. The arts, sciences, philosophy, and man being master of many things were all resurgence during this time. One particular painting to be analyzed for an example of Southern Italian style is Giuliano Burgiardini, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, 510. Giuliano Burgiardini painting conveys the typical Southern Italian style with its composition in a pyramidal fashion, the particular way the bodies are depicted, and use of chiaroscuro of shadowing that differentiates it from Northern style. To continue on forth, the composition of the painting must be taken into account as well as Giuliano use of color, light and shadow as evidence of Southern Italian style. It must be noted, the painting is considered historical because it is depicting a significant event in time whether or not the event actually took place. In this particular historical painting you see depicted Mary and Christ with Saint John the Baptist in a pyramidal formation. The pyramidal formation and the fact that there are 3 figures were often seen in Southern Italian style. You can see Christ and St. John the Baptist as the corner base of the triangle and the head of Mary at the apex (Giuliano). A straight line can almost be drawn from the foot of Christ up to the head of Mary down to the foot of St. John the...
Words: 1158 - Pages: 5
...into the “Renaissance” period, artists of the fifteenth-century represented a variety of textures, shapes, and spaces that they experienced around them in their lives. They developed a style of painting called “linear perspective” which would allow them to reflect simulations of three-dimensional forms arranged in space. This would give the painting a depth and realism not seen until now in the different eras. There was a heavy emphasis placed on the realistic portrait-like paintings giving a life-like sense to the images. This Humanist style of painting placed great value on science reason, and the individual while keeping an unwavering religious faith style. One of the techniques developed in Northern Europe was “oil painting”, unlike the Italian artist, the northern artists painted in oil on canvas. Oil paint takes much longer to dry allowing the painter time to easily make changes. The long drying process would allow the paint to dry smooth erasing the brush strokes. More importantly, oil paint is translucent when applied in thin layers, known as glazes. This method of built up glazes would let the light penetrate to the lower layers and then reflect back which would create the appearance of an interior glow, giving viewers the illusion that they were looking at real objects rather than painted imitations. Italian artists favored tempera, the method of suspending powered pigments in oils like linseed or sometimes walnut. One large difference from the Northern oils was that...
Words: 890 - Pages: 4
...Step 1: During the years between 1200 and 1400 the Italian Proto Renaissance occurred in Northern Italy. This was a time where artist began to demonstrate a constant movement toward naturalism and humanistic thought which brought a "rebirth" of classical ideals. In the midst of this rebirth, was also the Great Schism and the bubonic plague that caused religious leaders and wealthy citizens to seek out artist and their work, in order to bring people closer to church. Following the end of the Proto Renaissance came the Renaissance between 1400-1500. The rise of humanism and humanist philosophy within this period along with the invention of moveable type led to the cultural and artistic explosion that would take place for the next two hundred years. This explosion was the High Renaissance taking place during the 1500s through the early 1700s. In this era was the birth of the old masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raffaello Santi to name a few. This time brought about masterpieces like Leonardo's "The Last Supper", Michelangelo's "Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel", and Raphael's "School of Athens". During the mid-eighteenth century was the French Neoclassical period which ran alongside the French Revolution. Neoclassical artists depicted noble and stoic subjects from history and began replacing Rococo style. With the revolt against Rococo style painting taking place this lead to the commissioning of the painting "Oath of the Horatii" by painter Jacques-Louis...
Words: 791 - Pages: 4
...Lamentations Over Time When analyzing a painting, or any art form, one must pay particular attention to the relationship between the work’s form, composition, and culture. These elements are important to understanding a piece’s purpose, and why it was produced in this particular time period. In this paper, the painting, Attributed to Quenten Metsys, Lamentation, c. 1520 will be analyzed and compared to Giotto’s Lamentation, c. 1305 to understand the differences in how these elements are portrayed when used in two different settings. These two paintings depict the same scene, but they are painted in two very different styles. Located in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the painting Attributed to Quenten Metsys Lamentation, c. 1520 can be recognized as a Northern Italian work of art due to the immense detail and vivid coloration that could only be achieved through the use of oil paint. When the 1300s began, two Renaissance movements took place in both the Southern and Northern regions of Italy. The popular and most commonly used medium during the southern Renaissance was fresco, where artists would paint straight on the wall. But, during the Northern Renaissance, oil paint was the more commonly used medium that was being experimented with. So, the fact that the Attributed to Quenten Metsys Lamentation, c. 1520 is an oil painting categorizes it as a northern piece of art. As this piece is further analyzed, it is revealed that there are ten figures in the foreground, and four...
Words: 1232 - Pages: 5
...CHAPTER 15 – Northern Europe, 1400 to 1500 The art of Northern Europe in the 15th century is typified by precision in rendering surfaces and a wealth of tiny details that came from a tradition of manuscript painting and a belief in the importance of every tiny creation of God's world. The technical development of oil paint provided a paint that dried slowly and was transparent so made possible rich, jewel-like colors and illusionistic textures through a build-up of layers of paint. Works to identify and know in depth: Artist Title Date Jan van Eyck Arnolfini Double Portrait 1400s (15-1) This painting is believed to be a portrait of the Italian merchant Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife, presumably in their home in the Flemish city of Bruges. It is considered one of the most original and complex paintings in Western art history. Both signed and dated by Van Eyck in 1434, it is, with the Ghent Altarpiece by the same artist and his brother Hubert, the oldest very famous panel painting to have been executed in oils rather than in tempera. The painting was bought by the National Gallery in London in 1842. Claus Sluter Well of Moses 1400s (15-2) The work was executed for Philip’s son, John the Fearless (1371-1419), in a style combining the elegance of International Gothic with a northern realism, but with a monumental quality unusual in either. It was carved from stone quarried in Asnières, France and consisted of a large crucifixion...
Words: 1714 - Pages: 7
...The Renaissance in Italy and Europe The French word Renaissance means “rebirth” and is the period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages. It relates mostly to the growth of artistic and intellectual creativity which is also used by artists and thinkers to recover and apply the ancient learning and standards of Greece and Rome. The Renaissance was basically an intellectual and also cultural movement that imparted some sort of intellectual quality which made it one of the most important events in universal history. This movement was carried on between the fourteenth century and the sixteenth century. The Renaissance was believed to be restricted to Italy somewhere during the late 15th century. This great movement made a huge and advance difference in the world today and also back in the days. It brought major contrasts with civilization in Europe during this time period. This has become of my interest not only because it is one of the world’s most known events, but also because it is a movement that benefited and contributed intellectual developments in most parts of the world today. It is most commonly known that one of the reasons the Renaissance period took place was because theology was rejected by the Middle Ages and was taken over by science. The outlook and institutions of the Middle Ages disintegrated and conspicuous modern forms, like science, emerged. Because of the different levels in society during the time of this intellectual movement, all...
Words: 2071 - Pages: 9
...country. Therefore, in this paper I will compare and contrast the Renaissance and Baroque period's architecture for those periods. Task A1: The Renaissance period generally covered 200 years from 1400-1600 and followed the Gothic period. The meaning of the Renaissance was “rebirth”. Two components comprised this time; (1) an interest in humanism and assertion of the individual and (2) the revival of classical forms originally from the ancient Greeks and Romans. (Renaissance Art and Architecture, 2000). Many feel that the Renaissance period started in Italy as it was a great location between Western Europe and the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean. Italian cities became the important trade and commercial centers. The Rhine, Danube and Rhone Riverways were valuable routes to transport goods. Cities grew and prospered during this period and the rulers or government learned how to tax people. Removing religion from politics was also a major change during the early Renaissance Period. The new humanists felt that humans should have control over events. They also supported causes that they believed to be justified and right. (Social and Economic Changes During the Renaissance). Unlike the Gothic period that preceded the Renaissance period, which consisted of very tall designs which swept upwards in height, flying buttresses, pointed arches, vaulted ceilings, and gargoyles, often smelly and moldy, the Renaissance period depicted symmetrical arrangements of windows...
Words: 1183 - Pages: 5
...Throughout history religion has continually played an important part in the on goings of humanity. Religious differences have created new societies and even sparked domestic and international conflicts. Beyond these areas of influence, religion has affected art in the form of the colloquial idea of art as well as literature, sculpture and architecture. Two structures where religion plays heavy influence, in differing time periods are the Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy, and the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, France. The two exhibit the different views of Christianity in their respective time periods. While, the Arch of Constantine was constructed during the rise of Christianity and the Notre Dame de Paris was originally constructed during a time when the norm was to build extravagant pieces as a tribute to God. The political, cultural, religious and economic climates all had a hand in creating the similarities and differences between the two structures. This analysis will show that regardless of temporal period religion plays a significant role in architecture during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The construction of churches and religious-themed buildings was common in the newly emerging city-states and the already well-established areas. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate in the fourth century A.D., in the Italian city of Rome situated between the Coliseum and the Palatine Hill. The beginnings of Christianity, or the Flowering of Christianity as...
Words: 1635 - Pages: 7
...Paper Assignment I Art and Society: Renaissance to Modern Art University of Houston Dr. Sandra Zalman Due: September 18 by midnight via turnitin on Blackboard (http://www.uh.edu/blackboard/) This assignment asks you to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. You will be describing and analyzing a painting in the collection of the museum, paying particular attention to the relationship between the form, composition, and culture of the society from which this painting originated. Then you will contrast that with what you’ve learned about the Northern style of painting, especially considering different Northern priorities in depicting religious themes. First, locate the painting: Giuliano Bugiardini, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, 1510 in room 216 of the Audrey Jones Beck building of the Museum of Fine Arts. Discuss how the painting is representative of the Southern Italian style. How does the artist’s use of color, light and shadow, and composition (relationship of figures and space) affect your interpretation of the narrative? How is the human body rendered, and in what sort of environment? What priorities does this artist have in visualizing the narrative for the audience? After describing the painting, consider the cultural differences represented by Southern and Northern painting. How might this theme look differently had it been painted by a Northern artist? How might a Northern artist have interpreted the same scene differently? How might you recognize...
Words: 744 - Pages: 3
...must have evidence, or historical fact. • Each paragraph must have analysis, which may be presented as interpretation or commentary. • Each paragraph must contain a “clincher” sentence. • Each paragraph must contain a transition sentence that directs the reader to the next paragraph. 6. Write the conclusion. • The conclusion must reinforce the thesis, not restate it. • The conclusion must summarize the main points of the body paragraphs. • The conclusion must synthesize the clincher sentences. • The conclusion must address “So what?” (historical significance). 7. Proofread your essay. • Eliminate grammatical errors. • Eliminate contradictions between the thesis and the body. Types of Essay Questions 1. Change over time – Questions that ask...
Words: 999 - Pages: 4
