Northern Europe and Spain 1500-1600

Question 1

Isenheim Altarpiece

Answer 1

Matthias Grunewald 1510-1515 Exterior shows: Saint Sebastian, Crucifixion, Lamentation. Middle Panels: Annunciation, Angelic Concert, Madonna and Child, Resurrection. Interior: Meeting and Temptation of St Anthony. For church near hospital Can perform amputations. Saint Anthony’s fire was the disease that was treated at hospital Saint Anthony: patron saint of healing.

Question 2

Great Piece of Turf

Answer 2

Durer 1503 Empiricism and observation. Beauty lies in the humble and even ugly things. Nature is created by God and is therefore holy. Botanists identified dandelion great plantain, meadow grass, etc.

Question 3

Fall of Man

Answer 3

Durer 1504 Took up printmaking. Ordinary people could buy. Wife manager, mother market seller. Adam and Eve idealized, in contrapposto, proportioned. Four humors are the bunny, elk, cat, ox. Cat and mouse symbols of Adam and Eve in moment of fall of man.

Question 4

Four Apostles

Answer 4

Durer 1526 Without commission. Gift to city hall. Saint John and Mark in foreground. Saint Peter behind John shows how the bible comes before the pope, which shows Lutheran values. Bible open to the creation page.

Question 5

Battle of Issus

Answer 5

Albrecht Altdorfer 1529 Alexander the Great defeating King of Persia. Subject written in sky in Latin. Represents Wilhelm IV’s military campaign against Turks. Unrealistic distance and clarity (from Greece to Nile in Egypt).

Question 6

The French Ambassadors

Answer 6

Hans Hoblein the Younger 1533 Erasmus advised him to move from Basel to England with Thomas More to avoid religious Civil War. Momento Mori=reminder of death Anamorphic image of skull, other mortality symbols included. Lute with broken string symbolizes discord in religious wars.

Question 7

Northern Proverbs

Answer 7

Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1559 100+ proverbs: -living under the broom blind leading the blind -biting the pillar -stabbing a pig through the belly -tying a bell to the cat Panoramic view. Linear perspective.

Question 8

Hunters in the Snow

Answer 8

Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1565 Reflects severe weather of 1565. Weary hunters coming back from bad hunt, hunting dogs, skaters, women building fires.

Question 9

Burial of Count Orgaz

Answer 9

El Gerco 1586 “The Greek” Byzantine influence. Head cluster. No distinct background. Heaven shown above.