Chapter 23 Northern Europe and Spain 1500-1600

Witchcraft in 15th and 16th Century.

Counter religion that Popes condemned and Church Inquisitors pursued and tortured in order to gain a confession.

Tympana

Half-round panel that fills the space between the lintle and arch over the doorway of the church.

Martin Luther

He published 95 Theses and called pope the anti-christ and the church the ***** of babylon. He produced the first translation of the bible into latin.

Hans Holbein worked in the court of ?

Henry VIII.

The Isenheim Altarpiece was originally placed in a ?

Hospital

Erasmus, Thomas More and Francois Rabelais

Influential Christian Humanists.

Reformation

A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches. Many Popes came from wealthy families, i.e. the Medicis. believes that only bible can serve as foundation for Christianity. Decried sacraments at pagan obstacles to salvation. People cannot earn their way into heaven, only granted by God.

Albrecht Durer, Fall of man, 1504, Engraving

Concept of perfect man and woman, but tempered with naturalism. Animals are symbolic and based on the "four humors" bodily fluids and humanities temperaments. Tension between cat and mouse symbolizes relation between Adam and Eve at the crucial moment.

Levina Teerlinc, Elizabeth I as a Princess, Oil on Wood, 1559

Daughter of Henry the VIII and Anne Boyleyn. Wears an elegant brocaded gown.

One aspect of Northern European Painting

Devotion to detailed paintings.

What did prints do for Protestantism?

Easily affordable way to educate the masses and facilitated private devotional exercises.

AlBrecht Altdorfer, Battle of Issus, 1529, Oil on Wood,

Example of artists in the Holy Roman Empire depicting historical events. This is a painting of Alexander the Great's defeat of King Darius III of Persia in town of Issus. Artist parallels the conflicts as progressives against the infidels. Symbol of Alex as the Sun God, sets in the distance.

The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse are War, Pestilence, Death, and what?

Famine.

Pieter Aertsen, Butcher's Stall, 1551, Oil on Wood.

First appears to be genre painting, but in background Joseph leads a donkey carrying Mary and the Christ child. They stop to offer alms to a beggar. Crossed fishes, pretzels, and wine in upper left hand corner refer to spiritual food. Contrasted with gluttony, lust and sloth. Oyster and mussel shells (aphrodisiac) scattered on the ground

Albrecht Durer

First celebrity artist outside of Italy. Dominant artist from the Holy Roman Empire. Traveled to Italy to study. Kept record of his life and career, had several self-portraits. Fame came more from being a printmaker than painter. Sold single sheets so ordinary man could purchase. Brought what some believe as the first lawsuit over artistic copyright.

Caterina Van Hemessen, Self Portait, 1548

First known self-portrait of a woman. Assured she would be the known artist she signed the painting, Caterina van Hemessen painted me/1548/her age 20.

Northern Humanists

Focused more on reconciling humanism with Christianity.

Hieronymus Bosch, Garden of Earthly Delights, 1505-1510, Oil on wood

Form of monumental triptych.Some think comrades a wedding. Sandwiched in between heaven and hell is the huge central panel in which nude people cavort, numerous birds and fruits suggest procreation. Some say it's a warning sign about the last judgement. Could symbolize the four stages of alchemy, bringing together opposite elements(left panel), mixing them(central panel) purification process by Fire(Right Panel) Cleansing not illustrated.

Map of Europe in early 16th century

France and Holy Roman Empire absorbed Burgandian Netherlands. Spain became dominant European state.

Nikolaus Hagenauer, Isenheim Altarpiece

Guided and polychromed statues of Saints Anthony Abbot, Augustine, and Jerome. Saints associated with the plague and other diseases. Painted panels belong to Grunewald, the panel on the right is image of five temptations dipicted as bestial creatures in the dark landscape. Shows the disease "St. Anthony's Fire".

Jean Clouet, Francis I, Tempura on oil and Wood,

Here the king appears soave and confident in elegant garb with his hand on a dagger. The disproportion and features that are flattened show formalized nature.

Matthias Grunewald, Isenheim Altarpiece, Chapel of Hospital of St. Anthony, Isenheim, Germany 1510-1515, oil on wood

Includes painted panels depicting suffering and disease but also miraculous healing, hope and salvation. Serve as warnings encouraging devotion. Two moveable pieces of the predella, if slid apart make it appear that Christ's legs have been amputated alluding to St. Anthony's Fire which resulted in amputation. Particularly meaningful for those at the hospital. Themes; pain, illness, death, hope, comfort, and salvation.

Jan Gossaert, Neptune and Amphitrite, 1516

Inspired by Durer's Fall of man, the poses are similar but architectural setting is based on ancient rome buildings.

Albrecht Durer, Knight, Death, and Devil, 1513, Engraving

Knight represents a Christian Knight with his faith can can repel death and the devil. Display the strength, movement, and proportion of the Italian Renaissance.

Albrecht Durer, Four Apostles, 1526, Oil on Wood, Munich

Mark and Paul on the right, John and Peter on the left. Documents Durer's support for Martin Luther. Relegated St. Peter behind John the Evangelist. Peter and John both read bible emphasizing centrality and having it open to Genesis. Quotes from the four apostles warning of the coming of perilous times and the preaching of false prophets.

Genre Scene

One from everyday life.

Albrecht Durer, Great Piece of Turf, 1503, Watercolor

Painting reveals scientific truth. Sight became the instrument of modern knowledge.

Quinten Massys, Changer and His Wife, 1514, Oil on Wood.

Professional man transacts business. Wife shows more interest in the money than reading her bible. Men outside talking suggest idols and gossip. In the mirror is a man reads a bible and behind him is a steeple that read "Let the balance be just and the weighs equal."

Chataeu de Chambord, France, began in 1519

Reflects more peaceful times. Includes a central square, with four corridors in the shape of a cross, a broad central staircase that gives access to a group of rooms, a round corner in each of the four corners, moat surrounds, shows Italian Renaissance influence with he matching of horizontal and vertical features, except on third level where ones break chaotically into high dormers, chimneys and lanterns that speak to a Gothic influence.

Pierre Lascot, west wing of the Cour Carre of the Louvre, Paris France, 1546

Reflects the Italian Renaissance of Bramante, but the decreasing height of the stories, large scale of the windows, and steep roof are Northern European features. Shows use of Roman Arches on the main floor. On the second story the two-story pilasters copy several High Renaissance buildings. Only building to serve as a modal for classism in the 16th century. Mixture between French Chateau and an Italian palazzo.

Francis I

Ruled France from 1515-1547. He established foothold in Milan, waged campaign against Spanish King and Holy Roman Empire Emperor, Charles 5th. He also took a strong position in religion and declared Protestantism illegal in 1534. Persecuted the protestants(the Huguenots) which eventually led to one of the bloodiest religious massacres in Paris in 1572 in European history. Art meant to glorify the state and himself. Court favored art that was elegant, erotic, and unorthodox. Mannerism appealed to them. Brought Cellini, Fiorentino and Primaticcio to France.

The Protestant Reformation had its most damaging effect on?

Sculpture, many were smashed during the Reformation.

Hans Holbein, the Younger, The French Ambassadors, Oil and Tempura on wood., 1533

Shows French Ambassadors to England. Included a gray slash that was a skull that refers to death. Crucifix just peeking out in left hand corner could be artists attempt to have viewer consider resurrection. Also includes Luther's translations which could refer to religious strife. Shows humanism and interest in learning.

The Battle of Issues is meant to parallel contemporary battles against what people?

The Turks

Lusan Cranach the Elder, Allegory of Law and Grace, 1530, Woodcut.

The piece contrasts Catholic and Protestant views about how to achieve salvation. (A central concern of Protestant reformers)

What is important about the iconoclasm of the 16th Century?

The strong reactions to religious art reflect the religous fervor of the time and show the power of art.

Netherlands in mid-16th century

Under political control of Phillip II. Economic prosperity incited Phillip to tighten control which led to the 1579 revolt resulting in two federations; Union of Arras(Catholic) southern Netherlands under Spanish control, and Union of Urecht(protestant) which became the Dutch Republic. Art became less religious. Most art depicts lives of nobility to peasantry in activities, environment and values.

Hans Baldung Grien, Witches' Sabbath, 1510. Chiarscuro, woodcut.

Woodcuts a recent German innovation. Required two blocks of wood versus one. One block cut like a printer would use to make prints. Second block of broad highlights that can be inked in gray or color and printed over first block's impression which gives it a painting subtlety not found in traditional. Witchcraft fascinated Baldung. Depicts a night scene in forest with coven of witches are around a pot that is spewing into the air. The witch riding backwards signify that witchcraft is the inversion of religion.

Netherlands at beginning of 16th century

consisted of 17 provinces and was the most commercially advanced and prosperous. It's rivers and access to the Atlantic ocean was conducive to over-see trade.