Exam #1 15th Century Flashcards
1
Q
Renaissance and Jules Michelet
and the
Characteristics of the Northern Renaissance
A
Renaissance not used until 1855 when Jules Michelet wrote about it in the “History of France”.
Northern Europe/Characteristics
- Renaissance means revival or rebirth (French word)
- learning, intellectualism
- extremely detailed observations fo flora, animals, human characteristics. Recording natural world.
- not as flattering, detailed
- beard stubble, bags under eyes, wrinkles etc.
- some perspective used
- awkward
- tile floors and hallways depict distance
- miniature architecture
2
Q
International Gothic Style and ‘Realism of Particulars’
A
International Gothic Style
“Realism of Particulars”
- prominent style of late 14th century Europe
- artists in France, Italy and Flanders
- extreme, excessive detail
- receeding objects and use of atmospheric space
- bright colors, use of gold
- figures are graceful and elegant
- architecture and landscapes are miniature
- microscopic detail
3
Q
A
The Annunciation, Visitation, Presentation in the Temple, Flight into Egypt
by Melchoir Broederlam
1393-1399
- Painted internationally, then carried to Europe
- atmospheric
- bright colors
- Life of the Virgin and Christ intertwined
- Mary and Elizabeth
- Visitation
- Flight into Egypt
- Pagan god on pedestal falling over to represent one religion being replaced by another
- Miniature architecture, detailed, recession of space, use of angles.
Annunciation
- Gabriel announces that Mary will be the mother of Christ
- Lilies - Mary’s purity, virginity
Visitation
- Elizabeth, carrying John the Baptist, feels Mary’s baby bump.
Presentaiton in the Temple
- Jesus is brought to the temple to be blessed
Flight into Egypt
- Pharoah ordered Jewish baby boys to be killed
- Pedestal with pagan god falls off, Christianity replacing Pagaenism and Judaism.
4
Q
A
Flemish Tapestries
Well of Moses, Claus Sluter, 1395-1406
- Life size, 6ft in heighth
- from Hebrew bible, predicting Jesus’ birth
- highly individualized, wrinkles, old
- thick, abundant drapery
- light and shadow, furthers 3-D
- base for a crucifiction scene
- metal eye-glasses and buckles
- garments elaborately painted
- feathers are very detailed and life-like
5
Q
A
Flemish Tapestries
Unicorn Found at the Fountain, Hunt of the Unicorn 1495-1505
- tapestry
- detailed flora, animals, religious themes, classical mythology
- huge, over 12ft high
- curves VERY DIFFICULT to achieve, masterpiece
- lights and shadows
- aesthetic and practical uses:
- insulation in home
- portable
- woven more expensive
- display of oweners wealth
- silver and gilt wrapped thread and silk
- A&E are the queens initials, F&R are related to the original owners of the piece
- garments and fur are detailed
Symbolism:
- Unicorn: Christ only caught by a virgin, symbolizes Christ’s birth to Mary
- Oranges: fertility
- Stag and antlers: Christ’s resurrection, shedding antlersand regrowth, also a defender of snakes and evil.
- Lions: valor, faith, mercy, and courage
- Rabbits: fertility
- Dogs: fidelity
- Variety of plants, trees and fruits:
- Strawberries: sexual love
- Peach Tree: nobility
- Pomegranates: fertility
6
Q
The Flemish School
A
The Flemish School
- oil was a preferred medium, slow to dry and transparent when applied in the layers
- Flemish panel paintings meant to be viewed as windows into a particular scene
- evidence of “Realism of Particulars”
- characteristics of Northern European work
- drapery
- attention to detail
- elements of nature
- symbolism
- strong economy
- textile industry strong
- Arnalfini
- Religious patrons and wealthy merchants
- details, facial features
- drapery
- architectural settings
- religious imagery
7
Q
A
Merode Altarpiece, triptych of the Annunciation, Workshop of the Master of Flemalle, 1425-1430s, oil on wood panel
- Annunciation
- patrons in prayer
- miniature Jesus, Mary concieving Christ
- Joseph on right
- very detailed background, cityscape
Symbolization
- Mouse-traps: catching Satan
- Gothic-alcove: Mary’s virginity
- Lilies: virginity
- Waterpot: Mary vessell, carrying Christ
- Mary on footrest: obedience to God, piety
- Extinguished candle: divinity of Christ taking human form
8
Q
A
Double Portrait fo Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife, Jon Van Eyck, 1434
- Giovanni made a fortune selling luxurious garments
- Patron and the artist in the picture
- artist in the mirror w/other figures
- inscribed above mirror, “Jan Van Eych was here”
- wife was more idealized
- wealthy
- chandelier
- rich bedding
- fancy garments
- oriental rug
- secular setting, non-religious
- religious objects:
- mirror, Christ the Passion
- Prayer beads
- obedience to the Church
- Mirror-eye of God
Symbols:
- candles, lit and unlit
- oranges in window: fertiltiy
- dog: fidelity, lust, funeral
- shoes: his; outside work, hers; inside work, also symbolize fertility and sexuality
- may be showing her feet to her husband
Meaning of Painting:
- wife could have been pregnant
- wedding or betrothal scene
- Arnolfini married twice, wedding
- candles lit on side of Arnolfini, unlit on her side, memorial
- ability to enter into business contracts
9
Q
A
Ghent Altarpiece. Jon and Hubert Van Eyck, 1432, Cathedral of St. Bavo, Ghent
Annunciation
Closed:
- images of patrons
- John the Baptist
- John the Evangelist
- Mary’s words upside down, speaking to God
- dove
- drapery alive
- lillies
- patrons
- detailed
- grisae manner
- visible representation of said to Gabriel, “Be hold the hand made from the Lord”
- Shutters open on Sunday and Holy Days
- Scale is off
Open:
- God-robed figure
- triple crown, earthly crown at his feet
- realistic drapery
- lighting, outside shining in
- Mary on left
- John the Baptist on the right
- Shrine area
- angels singing
- Adam and Eve
- horizon line
- angels same face, different expressions
- realistic adam and eve
Central panel bottom piece:
- lamb of God on altar
- blood pouring into chalice
- saints, martyrs, warriors
- Architectural scene
- cityscape
- trees and foliage
10
Q
A
Ghent Altarpiece Open
11
Q
Printmaking in Northern Europe
A
- Mass produced books
- more available to the common man
- quicker less expensive way to make books
- woodcut and engraving
- 1455 Gutenberg Bible first to be printed
- Religious stories were illustrated
12
Q
A
The City of Nuremberg from the Nuremberg Chronicles, Michael Wolgemut, Wilhelm Pleydenwurff and Workshop, 1493, woodcut within a printed book
- each copy had 1809 woodcut illustrations
- populated city 45-55,000 citizens
- histories of western cities
- bound, unbound, parchment
