Fifteenth Century Art in Europe

Question 1

Adoration of the Mystic Lamb

Answer 1

Created by Van Eeyk who was remembered as the inventor of oil paint
Completed in 1432
He used oil paint by applying at least three layers of transparent layers of oil paint to panels, carefully preparing the underlayer to create a luminous effect; this allowed him to capture subtle variations in light and shadow with great precision
This painting was significant because it represented Christ, the Lamb of God

Question 2

Portinari Altarpiece

Answer 2

Florence, 1474 - 1476
Van der Goes, master of light and minute descriptive details, is considered one of the greatest Netherlandish painters of the second half of the fifteenth century. The Portinari Altarpiece is a large triptych that was commissioned by an Italian named Tommaso Portinari, who was living in the Netherlands

Question 3

Saint Luke’s Drawing of the Virgin and Child

Answer 3

Rogier van der Weyden
Created around 1435-1440 and is located in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is one of the most celebrated examples of Northern Renaissance art. This work shows St. Luke, traditionally believed to be the first to have painted an image of the Virgin Mary, seated and sketching her likeness. The composition is striking for its sense of intimate connection between St. Luke and the Virgin, who gazes directly at the viewer while holding the Child.

The painting is also known for its fine attention to detail, a hallmark of van der Weyden’s style, as well as the vivid emotional intensity conveyed through facial expressions and the drapery of the figures. The use of light and shadow enhances the realism and three-dimensionality of the figures, giving them a lifelike presence.

This piece also reflects the growing interest in sacred art during the period and the importance of the Virgin Mary in religious devotion.

Question 4

Albrecht Dürer

Answer 4

A self portrait created in 1500
Commemorates a turning point in the artist’s life and a new millennium