Download The Renaissance in Northern Europe

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The founder of Renaissance painting in Flanders was Jan van Eyck.
He painted with oil paints and was one of the first to show just what
could be done in this medium.
The Renaissance in Northern Europe
One of his most well-known pieces was the Ghent Altarpiece. An
altarpiece was a painting on wood. It was made of several hinged
panels that could be opened to show the scene inside or closed to
show the paintings on the back.
By Sharon Fabian
The Renaissance, a rebirth
of interest in art and
science, appeared in
different ways in different
places. In Italy, the center
of the Renaissance, it
showed up as a rebirth of
interest in classical Greek
and Roman culture. In
Flanders, a Renaissance
center in Northern Europe,
the Renaissance appeared
as a more gradual change
from the style of the Middle Ages to a more realistic and expressive
style.
Flanders was what we now know as Belgium and part of France. It
was at some distance from Italy and other European cities where the
Renaissance had already begun to flourish. Of course, Flemish artists
had heard of Michelangelo, Raphael, and other Renaissance giants,
and were interested in their work. Flemish artists were also
developing their own unique style in the 1500's.
During the Middle Ages, miniature paintings had been popular in
Flanders. These miniatures were the style used in illuminated
manuscripts, books with tiny paintings for the initial letter on a page,
or even full paintings in miniature. By the mid 1500's, however,
interest in miniatures began to fade, and another style captured the
interest of both artists and the public.
This new style featured large paintings meant to be displayed in
public. With this large format, artists could go into much more detail
in each painting. They began to create paintings that were much more
realistic and expressive than earlier works of art. In fact, realism and
facial expressions are two features that distinguish Renaissance
painting from earlier styles.
Portraits by van Eyck were also in demand. He painted an interesting
wedding portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife. In this portrait,
there is a mirror in the background, and reflected in the mirror is van
Eyck himself. The shiny, reflective mirror is also a good example of
how Renaissance painters learned to paint surfaces as they were
affected by light. The painting is full of elaborate details, from the
mirror itself, to the puppy at the couple's feet, to the pair of wooden
sandals on the floor.
Another famous Flemish painter of the Renaissance period was
Rogier van der Weyden. He is known for his religious paintings, often
of dramatic, tragic scenes. His paintings became popular all over
Europe; however, he is less well-known today.
A more controversial painter from the Northern European
Renaissance was Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch painter. Bosch's
paintings contain mysterious figures, symbols, and images. Strange
creatures and machines make the viewer wonder what his paintings
are all about. He is often considered an early inspiration for the
movement known as surrealism in twentieth century art. Details from
his paintings have even been used on album covers for rock and heavy
metal music.
At the same time that all of these innovations in painting were taking
place, creative people of the Renaissance were making changes in
other arts and in science as well. Just one example is Gerardus
Mercator, famous for his maps that gave Renaissance people a new
way of looking at the world.
A new way to look at the world, new ways to look at religion, new
ways to look at art, and even new ways for people to look at
themselves " these were just some of the contributions of the talented
and creative people of the Northern European Renaissance.
7. Renaissance paintings are known for their realistic facial
expressions.
A. false
B. true
Name
The Renaissance in Northern Europe
Questions
1. The main center of the Renaissance in Europe was ______.
A. Belgium
B. Italy
C. France
D. Flanders
2. The article is mainly about the Renaissance in ______.
A. Italy
B. Flanders
C. France
D. Belgium
3. The Ghent Altarpiece was painted by ______.
A. Raphael
B. Jan van Eyck
C. Michelangelo
D. Bosch
4. An altarpiece is a ______.
A. large painting for the ceiling of a church
B. piece of carved furniture
C. painting on canvas
D. painting on wood with folding panels
5. Renaissance paintings were more realistic than paintings of the
Middle Ages.
A. false
B. true
6. Oil paint was a medium not yet in use during the Renaissance.
A. false
B. true