Chapter 15 - 15th Century Northern Europe

Question 1

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 1

Les Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry - January by Limbourg Brothers. 1413. Manuscript painting.

1. Characteristic activities of each month - religious feast days
2. Lunette (depicts zodiac signs and sun) is seen above each photo
3. Increasing integration of religion and secular artwork

January:

1. Portrays New Year’s reception at court
2. Guests urged to come forward with words “aproche, aproche”
3. Lavish spread of food and large tapestry illustrate wealth and extravagance of occasion

Question 2

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 2

Les Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry - October by Limbourg Brothers. 1413. Manuscript painting.

1. Characteristic activities of each month - religious feast days
2. Lunette (depicts zodiac signs and sun) is seen above each photo
3. Increasing integration of religion and secular artwork

October:

1. Focused on peasantry - sower, city dwellers
2. Naturalism can be seen in architectural details of the Louvre (King’s residence)
3. Naturalism seen in shadows of people and objects

Question 3

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 3

Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck. 1432. Oil painting.

1. Humanity’s redemption through Christ is illustrated in the open altarpiece.
2. Adam and Eve shown on the upper portion of the sides of the altarpiece represent God’s infinite love for everyone, including sinners.
3. Lamb represents the sacrificed son of God.

Question 4

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 4

Deposition by Rogier van der Weyden. 1435. Painting.

1. Shallow stage with a golden back wall imitates large sculptured shrines popular to the 15th century
2. Resembles a stratified relief carving
3. Similar poses of Christ and his mother show equal amount of pain through his death

Question 5

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 5

Portinati Altarpiece by Hugo van der Goes. 1476. Tempera and oil painting on wood.

1. The Virgin, Joseph, and the angels are concerned about the suffering to come rather than the miraculous birth of Jesus.
2. Main actors are shown on tilted ground to enhance their part.
3. Architecture and landscape unify panels.

Question 6

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 6

Merode Altarpiece by Robert Campin. 1425. Oil paint on wood.

1. Virgin’s purity and divine mission is symbolized by the book, extinguished candle, and lillies on the table.
2. Mouse traps on the right panel symbolize bait set by Christ to trap the Devil.
3. The closed garden in the left panel smbolizes Mary’s purity and the flowers shown Mary’s virtues.

Question 7

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 7

Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife by Jan van Eyck. 1434. Oil painting.

1. Clogs on the left side indicate that the event is taking place on holy ground.
2. Small dog symbolizes fidelity.
3. Positioning of figures suggests common gender roles of that time - woman is closer to the bed and room, while the man is closer to the window.

Question 8

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 8

Man in a Red Turban by Jan van Eyck. 1433. Painting.

1. Inscriptions suggest it is a self-portrait
2. First known Western painted portrait in over 1000 years with the sitter looking directly at the viewer
3. Illusion shows the eyes returning gaze no matter what angle the painting is viewed from.

Question 9

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 9

Saint Luke Drawing the Virgin by Rogier van der Weyden. 1440. Tempera and oil painting on wood.

1. Smaller figures shown through the columns give the illusion of spacial depth.
2. Carved armrest of Virgin’s bench depicts Adam, Eve, and the serpent.
3. Painting honors the first Christian artist and painting as an art.

Question 10

What is the name of the artist and title? What is the date of this piece? What medium did this artist use? What are 3 significant points about this piece of art?

Answer 10

Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons by Martin Schongauer. 1490. Ink through the intaglio method (metal engraving).

1. Lines of varying thickness created a variety of tonal values and textures.
2. Cross-hatching was used to describe forms
3. Saint is caught in revolving thornbush of demons.