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The Renaissance was a period of achievement and great cultural change. The
Northern and Italian Renaissance greatly influenced Europe’s culture. Art became
popular all across Europe, and the Renaissance served as a movement for art history. Art
styles such as painting, sculpting, and architecture helped shaped European arts;
Renaissance art demonstrates the evolution in shifting style.1 With large numbers of
outstanding masters to be found in different fields of artistic skills Italian artist Leonardo
da Vinci and German artist Albrecht Dürer stood out as the two most influential artist of
Europe’s time.
Some of the most significant artist’s thoughts and ideas helped contribute to
create what has become of the Renaissance. To Germany and Italy both Albrecht Dürer
and Leonardo da Vinci were known as humanist, students of nature, and great artists.2
Both artist took pride in their work and emphasized the importance of sight. They both
captured the importance of human beings senses in each piece of art work they created.3
Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci both excelled in different artistic areas, and thus
would not be possible without the influence of the Renaissance itself.
1
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
2
Wisse, Jacob. "Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/durr/hd_durr.htm
(October 2002)
3
Wisse, Jacob. "Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/durr/hd_durr.htm
(October 2002)
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The Italian Renaissance describes a period during the mid-14th to mid-16th
centuries marked by great artistic and cultural achievements.4 Leonardo da Vinci grew up
in Florence, Italy, which was generally seen as the birth place of the Italian Renaissance.
The Italian Renaissance is marked by the literary works, paintings, sculptures, and
architectural designs.5 Da Vinci’s work forever transformed the role, and meaning of art
in the Italian Renaissance.
There was little reciprocal influence on the Northern Renaissance until nearly the
end of the 15th century.6 After the 15th century, ideas began to spread greatly around
Europe, influencing the North. Italian art styles started to move through Northern Europe,
and they were quickly adapted to local customs in the Northern Renaissance.7
Da Vinci was one of the most well known artists in Florence, Italy. With such
great talent, he set high standards for other artist to compare to. He was one of the only
figures that epitomized the Renaissance humanist in every masterpiece he created.8 His
work illustrated the highpoint of synthesizing human reasoning with spirituality and
4
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Leonardo da Vinci," accessed April 19, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
5
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Italian Renaissance: Dilemma: Opening," accessed May 12,
2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
6
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Northern Renaissance (Overview)," accessed April 23,
2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
7
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Northern Renaissance (Overview)," accessed April 23,
2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
8
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Leonardo da Vinci," accessed April 19, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
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religion.9 Leonardo’s paintings have been admired for many years for the freshness and
realism he incorporates in each art piece he creates.10 Not only did he excel in art, he was
also devoted to learning as much as possible about the world around him. He studied
subjects as diverse as science, architecture, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics.11
Leonardo thought of himself as an artist, but his talents and accomplishments ranged
from many areas. Because of Da Vinci’s great talents, he was known as the ultimate
Renaissance man. The term Renaissance man was often was used to describe a person
who was well educated or who excelled in a wide variety of subjects or fields.12 Da Vinci
was a brilliant man, and he lived up to his title of the ‘Renaissance man.’
Dürer was born and raised in Nuremberg, Germany.13 He was a brilliant painter,
draftsman, and writer, though his first and probably greatest artistic impact was in the
medium of printmaking.14 Prints were created by transferring ink from a matrix or
9
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "High Renaissance," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/
10
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Leonardo da Vinci," accessed April 19, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
11
Wisse, Jacob. "Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/durr/hd_durr.htm
(October 2002)
12
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "High Renaissance," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/
13
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Albrecht Durer," accessed May 13, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
14
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Northern Renaissance (Overview)," accessed April
23, 2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
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through a prepared screen to a sheet of paper.15 Printmaking displayed the process of
creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic
reproduction of a painting.16 Dürer was the son of a goldsmith, he was trained as a
metalworker at a young age.17 He applied the same meticulous, exacting methods
required in this delicate work to his engravings.18 The process of engravings was
developed in Germany from the engraving used by goldsmiths to decorate metalwork.19
Engravers use a hardened steel tool called a burin to cut the design into the surface of a
metal plate.20 Engraving was a generally difficult skill to learn, but Dürer mastered it.
While Dürer was known as an important painter, in his own day he was renowned
foremost for his graphic works. He was one of the greatest German artists of the early
Renaissance. Dürer was very prolific and showed extraordinary range, he produced
almost 1,000 drawings, 250 woodcuts, about 100 engravings, and 70 paintings.21
15
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Albrecht Durer," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
16
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Albrecht Durer," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
17
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Northern Renaissance (Overview)," accessed April 23,
2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
18
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Northern Renaissance (Overview)," accessed April 23,
2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
19
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Albrecht Durer," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
20
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "Albrecht Durer," accessed May 12, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
21
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "The Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand (Durer)," Image,
Dürer, Albrecht,The Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand, 1508, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna., accessed
May 12, 2012. http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
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Artists all over Europe used different art techniques. German artists turned to
landscapes and nature, and they maintained an elaborate symbolism and dramatic
complexity typical of the more northern countries in Europe.22 Italian artists remained
closer to the classical and High Renaissance style; some artists even depicted the Greek
and Roman myths within their art pieces.23 Art ranged from all different methods, artists
from the Northern and Italian Renaissance began to adapt and use the same techniques
within their paintings. Renaissance painters developed new techniques for representing
both humans and landscapes in a realistic way.24 Various artists used perspective in their
paintings by making distant objects smaller than those close to the viewer; artist could
paint scenes that appeared three-dimensional.25
At the heart of the Italian Renaissance was an intellectual movement known as
humanism.26 Humanism was based on the study of classical culture, it focused on
worldly subjects rather then on the religious issues that had occupied medieval thinkers.27
Humanism inspired the large number of surviving classical artworks and monuments that
22
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
23
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
24
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
25
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
26
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
27
Hall,2003.
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
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many Italian artists created. Renaissance artist often portrayed religious figures such as
Jesus and Mary, but they would often set these figures against Greek or Roman
Backgrounds.28
Dürer was a great admirer of Leonardo da Vinci. Albrecht Dürer made two trips
to Italy, to study techniques of the Italian masters.29 When Dürer traveled to Italy he was
significantly influenced by the art he saw there. In1506, Dürer applied and adapted
Leonardo's proportions to his own figures, as is evident in his drawings and paintings.30
He was able to Absorb firsthand some of the great works of the Italian Renaissance, and
it resonated deeply in Dürer’s engravings. Dürer was able to spread Italian Renaissance
ideas in his homeland.31 Dürer’s engravings began to gain popularity, and many people in
Italy started to copy his prints. The visits he made to Italy had an enormous influence on
him, Dürer is even Referred to as the “German Leonardo.”
One of Leonardo da Vinci’s earlier paintings was the Adoration of the Magi.32
Leonardo was given the commission by the Augustinian monks of San Donato a Scopeto
28
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
29
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
30
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
31
Ellis, Elizabeth, and Anthony Esler. World History: Connections to Today. New Jersey: Prentice
Hall,2003.
32
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/leonardo-adoration-of-the-magi.html
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in Florence to paint the Adoration of the Magi.33 Da Vinci departed for Milan the
following year, leaving the painting unfinished.34 The Adoration of the Magi35 is the
name that was given to the Christian subject in the Nativity of Jesus.36 The three Magi
represented as kings having found Jesus by following a star, and they laid before him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and worship him.37 Although da Vinci never
finished the Adoration of the Magi38 you can still depict his deep understanding of human
anatomy, this was evident in almost all of this paintings. Even when he is painting closed
figures, he is still understanding the skeletal structure, muscle structure, and the body of
each person he paints.39 In this painting Mary and the Christ child are centered perfectly
in the middle of the painting, forming a pyramid shape with the Magi surrounding them.40
The shape was commonly seen in the High Renaissance paintings, to provide a stable
33
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
34
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
35
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
36
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
37
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
38
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
39
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
40
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
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form throughout the painting.41 The pyramid shaping is especially important in the
Adoration of the Magi,42 because of the chaos in the background of the painting. On the
right side of the painting you can portray two horses battling, and on the left you can
depict fragments of classical architecture.
One of Dürer's most famous paintings was the Adoration of the Magi.43
The Adoration of the Magi44 is considered one of Dürer's best and most important works
from the period between his first and second trips to Italy. The painting was
commissioned by Frederick the Wise for the altar of the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg.45
The Adoration of the Magi46 reflects the influence Italy, as well as Leonardo da Vinci,
had on this particular painting of Dürer’s. His painting exemplifies the fusion of northern
attention to detail, and a typically Italian perspective. On the right side of background in
the painting you can depict two horses battling. On the left side of the painting you can
depict fragments of architecture. Both of these details are also incorporated into Leonardo
41
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
42
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
43
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
44
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
45
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
46
World History: The Modern Era, s.v. "European art," accessed April 29, 2012.
http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/.
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da Vinci’s version of the Adoration of the Magi.47The interpretation of the two kings is
extraordinary. All three of them are all in lavished clothing, with precious jewels, and the
beautiful goblets and caskets that they bear as gifts.48 By looking at Dürer’s verion of the
Adoration of the Magi49 you can see how the Italian Renaissance greatly influenced
Albrecht Dürer’s perspective of art.
The Renaissance found its greatest expression in art. The great achievement of
Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer during the High Renaissance resembles the
success of the time period. The Renaissance was a time of creativity and change, which
greatly influenced the different types of art over the time period. Both Leonardo da Vinci
and Albrecht Dürer were artists that influenced their countries, the Renaissance, and they
were also able to spread there ideas widely across Europe. Both artists will always be
admired for their great achievements in the art world.
47
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
48
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
49
Art History: Renaissance Reformation “The Adoration of the Magi” Retrieved from
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org