art history

Time Period: 1400-1500 emphasis on non-religious subjects; portraits, genre paintings, still life commercial/mercantilism prospered; trading towns; simulated interest in the arts cities competed for best cathedrals, altars, etc.  political/religious turmoil during the reformation; martin luther caused one of the greatest upheavals in european history netherlands and germany protestant; spain, italy, catholic anti catholic; iconoclastic movement capitalist market system, flourished due to grade; printmaking made artists more popular Johann Gutenberg; prints mass produced and inexpensive; oil paint; rich colors; natural hues and tones; dried slower; medium of choice thin, graceful figures; latest fashions; gold in abundance; elaborate frames symbolism plays large role; meanings of simple objects studied/debated by scholars  assimilation of Italian Renaissance ideas into a Northern European context Northern Europeans had a fondness for nature, either in the study of...

Hunters in the Snow . Pieter Bruegel the Elder. 1565 C.E. Oil on wood. WORLD LOCKED IN WINTER; HUNTERS AND DOGS, ICE SKATERS; IMAGE OF DAILY LIFE; CONTRAST OF COLORS; MOUNTAINS IN FOREGROUND; NOT REAL; NETHERLANDS IS FLAT; TOOK INSPIRATION FROM SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES; DOWNTRODDEN HEADS OF HUNTERS AND DOGS SIGNIFY DEFEAT

Allegory of Law and Grace . Lucas Cranach the Elder. c. 1530 C.E. Woodcut and letterpress. RELIGION CAUSED INTERNATIONAL CONTROVERSY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY; ICONOCLASTS DESTROYED CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS ART; MOST INFLUENTIAL IMAGE OF TTHE LUTHERAN REFORMATION; ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT CATHOLIC CHURCH TURNED INTO VIOLENCE AND REBELLION PEOPLE BECAME DISILLUSIONED ABOUT CATHOLIC TEACHING; DIFFERENT BELIEFS; CATHOLIC CHURCH’S WEALTH AND POWER ANGERED MANY; LUTHER BELIEVED RELIGIOUS ART SHOULD PROVIDE LESSONS LAW AND GOSPEL EXPLAINS LUTHER’S IDEALS IN VISUAL FORM; DESPISED THE IDEA THAT GOOD DEEDS WOULD PLAY A ROLE IN SALVATION; HEAVEN IS REALIZED THROUGH FAITH IN GOD TWO NUDE MALE FIGURES BETWEEN A TREE; RIGHT (GOSPEL) FIGURE SUBMITS TO GOD’S MERCY LEFT (LAW) - SKELETON AND DEMON FORCE A FRIGHTENED NAKED MAN INTO HELL; COMMUNICATED THAT YOU COULDN’T GET TO HEAVEN

Isenheim altarpiece . Matthias Grünewald. c. 1512–1516 C.E. Oil on wood. ENORMOUS MOVEABLE ALTARPIECE; MADE FOR A HOSPITAL; ST. ANTHONY HEALED SKIN DISEASES; MONKS CARED FOR SICK AND DYING PEASANTS; SCULPTED AND WOODEN POPULAR IN GERMANY; 3 SAINTS: ANTHONY, JEROME, AND ST. AUGUSTINE SYMMETRICAL AND MATHEMATICAL PAINTED PANELS; HELL ON EARTH; PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TORMENT; PSYCHEDELIC COLORS; EERIE, OTHERWORLDLY LANDSCAPE DISTORTED CHRIST; BODY MARKED WITH POX; EMPATHETIC PHYSICAL SUFFERING WAS INTENDED TO BE THAUMATURGIC (MIRACLE PERFORMING); VIRGIN SWOONS, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST HOLDS HER THE PUNCTURED, SPRAWLING BODY OF CHRIST IS PRESENTED AS AN INVITATION TO CONTEMPLATE MORTALITY AND RESURRECTION

Adam and Eve . Albrecht Dürer. 1504 C.E. Engraving. STYLIZATION OF NATURE; CURIOUS AND AWKWARD DEPICTION OF HUMAN BODY; THEIR POSES REFLECTED CRANACH’S BACKGROUND IN PAINTING THE NOBILITY EVE LOOKED SINISTER; ADAM INNOCENT; HAIR CONNECTS HER TO THE FOLIAGE BEHIND; THE TREE

The Arnolfini Portrait . Jan van Eyck. c. 1434 C.E. Oil on wood.