#2. Northern Renaissance

The northern European tradition of Gothic Art was greatly affected by the technical and

philosophical advancements of the Renaissance in Italy. While less concerned with studies of anatomy and linear perspective, northern artists were masters of technique, and their works are marvels of exquisite detail. This difference between northern and Italian art remained important for many years. I think it is a fair guess to say that any work which excels in the representation of the beautiful surface of things, of flowers, jewels or fabric, will be by a northern artist, most probably by an artist from the Netherlands; while a painting with bold outlines, clear perspective and a sure mastery of the beautiful human body, will be Italian. The great artists who inspired the Northern Renaissance included Jan van Eyck. As Italy moved into the High Renaissance, the north retained a distinct Gothic influence. In the 16th century, as in the south, the Northern Renaissance eventually gave way to highly stylized Mannerist art.

Jan van Eyck, the most famous and innovative Flemish painter of the 15th century, is thought to have come from the village of Maaseyck in Limbourg. Van Eyck has been credited traditionally with the invention of painting in oils, and, although this is incorrect, there is no doubt that he perfected the technique. He used the oil medium to represent a variety of subjects with striking realism in microscopic detail; for example, he infused painted jewels and precious metals with a glowing inner light by means of subtle glazes over the highlights. Like Robert Campin, van Eyck carefully selected and arranged his subject matter so that it would contribute deeper symbolic meaning to his painting, a style that Erwin Panofsky has called disguised symbolism. The meticulous attention to detail in his paintings of architectural interiors and landscapes is also evident in his portraits, painted with unrelenting, dispassionate accuracy.

I think that the Northern Renaissance artistic style was focused on not only naturalism, but also artist styles was using variety of colors, for example, oil paint was produced rich natural colors. Jan van Eyck’s painting ‘The Arnolfini Portrait’ conveys his use of color in a naturalistic way. From the woman’s elegant green dress which appears like real fabric.  Also, the Northern Renaissance artistic style was focused on realism and religion. When we look in through Jan van Eyck’s artworks, we could know that it is just like a one of real scene. There is depth of details in variety of ways.