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BBC Northern Renaissance 01 The Supreme Art, BBC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lob0zb28_wM&t=1050s

Borghese Gallery (2022, December 29). Portrait of Young Woman with Unicorn by Raphael: a famous High Renaissance masterpiece. Galerie Borghèse. https://borghese.gallery/collection/paintings/portrait-of-young-woman-with-unicorn.html

Durer Video, Professor Gand, https://dvc.instructure.com/courses/84922/pages/albrecht-durer-superstar-of-the-northern-16th-century?module_item_id=5309188

Durer Prints Video, Professor Gand, https://dvc.instructure.com/courses/84922/pages/durer-printmaker-extraordinaire?module_item_id=5428430

From the “Mona Lisa” to “The Wedding Feast at Cana.” (n.d.). Le Louvre. https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/from-the-mona-lisa-to-the-wedding-feast-at-cana

Mona Lisa video, Professor Gand, https://dvc.instructure.com/courses/84922/pages/leonardo-da-vinci?module_item_id=5309165

Stokstad, M., & W. Cothren, M. (n.d.). Art History (Sixth Edition). Pearson.

Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437699

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt. (n.d.). https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50.html

The National Gallery, London. (n.d). Italian | Portrait of a Lady with a Dog | NG3817 | National Gallery, London. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/italian-portrait-of-a-lady-with-a-dog

The National Gallery, London. (n.d.). Jan van Eyck | Portrait of a Man (Self Portrait?) | NG222 | National Gallery, London. https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-portrait-of-a-man-self-portrait

Venice video, Professor Gand, https://dvc.instructure.com/courses/84922/pages/the-veneto-venice?module_item_id=5309180

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Both Northern and Italian sixteenth-century artwork allows the modern viewer to step into a different world and learn what life could have looked like during this period. Before this time, artwork was mainly produced for the Catholic church or individuals with wealth and power and was seldom made for the artists as individuals. This all changed as the Protestant Reformation came to life. As the textbook furthers, "Against a backdrop of broad dissatisfaction with financial abuses and decadent lifestyles among the clergy, religious reformers from within the Church itself challenged first its practices and then its beliefs" (Stokstad & Cothren, pg. 692). This allowed artists to begin producing art in ways that hadn't been done before. They were not only able to produce art that's subject matter differed from the past, but they could also produce their artwork on a larger scale and make money, thanks to the rise of printmaking.
Along with the Protestant Reformation came the Counter-Reformation. The Counter-Reformation was a reaction from the church to the Protestant Reformation that also altered the subject of many pieces of art during this time period. It also affected various other pieces of protestant art since, as the textbook states, "Pope Paul III also addressed Protestantism through repression and censorship" (Stokstad & Cothren, Pg. 684). Both movements affected sixteenth-century artwork, which is evident in some of this gallery's pieces.
Many different art creation methods were also adapted or invented during this time. Artists began using linear perspective, different painting materials, and other similar techniques to achieve stunning pieces that accurately depicted humans, landscapes, and other scenes. This brings us to discuss one of the main aspects of sixteenth-century artwork, Humanism. As Humanism rose in popularity, suddenly, the artwork began to change. More and more artists began to build a separate mindset of what art could be and began to build towards a type of science. Portraiture became quite prevalent as well, along with landscape paintings. These landscape paintings are some of the most beautiful of this time period, and many of these iconic scenery images were created mainly in Northern Europe. Since the Renaissance started in Italy, many iconic and famous art pieces have originated there. Artists like Leonardo and Michelangelo paved the way for many other artists to thrive.
Nevertheless, many unique pieces also were coming out of the North during this period. Artists like Jan Van Eyck and Albrecht Durer were creating ultra-realistic paintings unlike any that had come before. Many aspects, such as realism and specific methods, are similar among art from Italy and the North, yet many differences exist as well; no one artist has the same hand, and although many share themes relating to historical events at the time, they all tell a separate story.
Overall it is important to note the significance of the individual self and one's relationship with God within the sixteenth century and in the Renaissance. This is where art began to take the form of more personal expression and emotion. The humanistic approach allowed many artists to flourish, and without many of these amazingly detailed portraits or landscapes, much of history would be lost. Many other advancements came forth in this period as well. Artists such as Albrecht Durer and Leonardo Da Vinci became more interested in human and animal anatomy, which had rarely been approached before, and both artists are praised for their works containing realistic imagery. Artists such as Raphael began perfecting the method of linear perspective, which gives the appearance of depth on a flat surface, a method still used heavily in art and other areas of design today. Finally, artists such as Jan Van Eyck began using different types of oil-based paint and other materials to enhance their artwork. These factors, combined with the historical changes in this period, allowed a new art form to flourish and enter into the Renaissance.

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Albrecht Dürer, Self-Portrait, 1500, oil paint. 

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This self-portrait is a prime example of quintessential northern renaissance artwork. Noted to be Durer’s self-portrait at the age of twenty-eight, this painting is not only visually stunning but also a prime example of Durer’s unique skills as a painter. Stokstad & Cothren state, “Durer strikes an odd pose for a self-portrait—frontal and hieratic, intentionally recalling iconic images of Christ as Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World) that were very popular in northern Europe” (Stokstad & Cothren Pg. 691). This presents the important ideal of the” imitation of Christ,” as the video titled “Durer” stated. This idea of imitating Christ and upholding faith as a whole is another notable aspect of Northern Europe artwork during this period. This pose is quite different from that of many other portraits in the gallery, and it is surely one of the most realistic and brilliant.

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Raphael, Young Woman with Unicorn, 1506, oil paint. 

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One of the most prevalent artists in Italy, Raphael, is accredited with painting this portrait of a woman holding this mystical unicorn. This is another fine example of the portraits from this time and an expression of Raphael’s talents. The balance within the painting is very similar to many other pieces, such as Durer’s self-portraits or even Da Vinic’s Mona Lisa. Raphael seems to have been very intentional about many aspects of the painting; the way the woman sits in front of the landscape behind her and the two columns along her side create something almost like a frame. It is also notable how she holds the unicorn, delicately wrapping the creature in a comforting embrace. The Borghese Gallery mentions that the unicorn “symbolizes purity” (Borghese Gallery). With this in mind, one can assume the painting represents innocence and life.

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Gerard David, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1510, oil on panel. 

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Painted by Gerard David in 1510, The Rest on the Flight Into Egypt depicts the Virgin Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus resting in a woodsy landscape. The mother and child are placed purposely in the middle of the painting, as Joseph stands behind them among the trees. The National Gallery of Art states, "David created a mood of calm equilibrium" (The National Gallery). This balance between the figures allows them to interact perfectly with each other and the landscape. This allows the painting to become not only a significant religious piece but also a representation of realistic and beautiful sixteenth-century art. When looking closer into the artwork, the viewer can begin to appreciate David's use of color within the painting, which helps create this favorable balance. Hues of pink brush the figure's faces, and subtle uses of green, tan, and grey create the scene they sit in. The rich blues of Mary's garments and the sky interact so perfectly, and even the tiny detail of the woven basket next to her feet would have been impossible to accomplish without color. This painting is quite similar to many from the time period, including other religious pieces such as that of Andrea Solario.

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Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Hunters in the Snow, 1565, oil paint. 

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This painting by Pieter Bruegel focuses on the landscape of this winter scene. We can see figures hunting in the front, and as we look deeper into the painting, smaller figures can be seen playing on the ice. The figures play an essential role in this piece; however, as Stokstad and Cothren state, "the landscape, rather than the figures, seems to be the principal subject" (Stokstad & Cothren, Pg. 717). It is unclear what Bruegel intended this artwork to be, but one can assume he may have been seeking to depict an ideal of what life was or could be in this period. This is incredibly similar to other artworks, such as Carpaccio's Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Ponte di Rialto painting, which depicts everyday life in Venice. Both paintings encapsulate a small amount of the same idea; Bruegel's artwork is arguably more aesthetically pleasing and only focuses on life and the landscape rather than religion. The way the landscape and figures interact draws the viewer's attention deeper into the painting, immersing them in the details and beauty of the piece.

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Vittore Carpaccio, Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Ponte di Rialto, 1496, tempera on canvas.

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The Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Rialto Bridge 

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The Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Rialto Bridge 

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This painting brings us insight into the daily lives of Venicencs in the 15th/16th century. This painting is quite similar to that of Bruegel’s, The Hunters in the Snow; however, there are many quintessential differences. Although Carpaccio’s painting allows modern art historians to learn more about the daily life of Venicencs from this period, it is mainly a religious painting. Although this painting allows us to look closer at everyday life, the video titled “Venice” furthers, “We can see some elements of Venician style” (4:21) within the painting as well. Carpaccio is able to use the light and water in the artwork to illuminate the piece. Another notable difference is that Carpaccio used oil paint on canvas. This gave the painting a different feel than paintings done directly on wood pieces. Overall this painting is not only visually stunning and brilliant, but it also provides us with a lot of insight into the past while also expressing Venician style perfectly.

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Unknown, Portrait of a Lady with a Dog, late 16th century, oil on wood.

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This artwork by an unknown artist is a stunning portrait that is representative of Italian artwork during the 16th century. Although this portrait is not the most well-known of all of the paintings in this gallery, it is an excellent example of the significance of portraits during this period. Although the dog, compared to other artworks such as Durer's, is not the most realistic, the woman's face is quite impressive. Realism is one aspect of the Renaissance quality, and the artist executed this by using shadowing and coloring in the women's face. How she interacts with the dog in an affectionate way also adds to the emotion of the painting. The dog rests its paw on her arm, and she embraces him with both hands. As we look closer at her attire and jewelry, it suggests she was wealthy and held some status.

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Albrecht Dürer, Young Hare, 1502, watercolor.

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This artwork by Albrecht Durer is an excellent expression of the natural art and realism that Durer was able to produce. Looking closer into the painting, one can see the individual hairs of the rabbit and the way the shadows and light allow this creature to come to life on the canvas. Durer was an expert at fine details, as he was known not only for his realistic paintings but mainly for his incredible printmaking. As the video titled “Durer Prints” states, “Durer was a master at both woodblock printing and engraving” (1:05). His detailed hand not only enhanced his art, such as this fantastic watercolor but it also opened up opportunities in printmaking. He was able to sell individual pieces and make money off his craft. His realism is unmatchable to many works from the sixteenth century, such as the Italian piece titled “Portrait of a Lady with a Dog.” Although this piece by an unknown artist is from the sixteenth century as well, the dog is not as detailed and realistic as many of Durer’s depictions of animals.

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Andrea Solario, Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist, ca. 1507–9, oil on wood. 

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Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist (Italian) 

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Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist (Italian) 

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This sixteenth-century painting by Andrea Solario is a stunning piece of sixteenth-century artwork. It depicts Salome holding a platter on which Saint John's decapitated head is placed. It is a religious art piece, just like David's, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt painting. Both paintings have similar aspects; both women's faces are looking down, so the viewer can only see a sliver of their eyes. The light and coloring give both women a structured yet doughy face, and all figures look quite realistic, a common occurrence in many paintings in this period. Like David's painting, the use of color is significant to this piece. Solario uses similar shades of pink and tan to create realistic skin and uses shades of gold, green and red to form her beautiful garments as jewels. This artwork was painted with oil-based paint upon a wood panel, unlike many other paintings in the gallery that were done on canvas.

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Jan Van Eyck, Portrait of a Man (Self Portrait?), 1433, oil paint. 

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This portrait, painted by Jan Van Eyck, is believed to be a self-portrait; however, that still needs to be confirmed. What is known is that this artwork is an iconic example of realistic portraits that emerged during this time period, such as the Mona Lisa. Although this painting is not as famous as Leonardo's, it stands out among many other artists' works. Using unique techniques that Van Eyck created himself, he was able to paint ultra-realistic artworks. In the video titled "The Supreme Art," it is stated that "what Jan Van Eyck did more expertly than any other painter of the time was to build up layers of paint, one on top of the next, which created deeper, richer colors" (29:09). The video also describes that he later used other layers of translucent oil-based glazes on top of his work that made the painting reflective. This technique allowed Van Eyck to create incredibly realistic paintings and portraits such as this one. Although the same method was not applied, we can compare this portrait to the Mona Lisa since both reflect many of the same ideals of this time; they also show the artist's talent within realism and allow us to look closer into history itself.

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Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, 1503, oil paint. 

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Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is among the most iconic paintings ever. Although its beauty is one of the factors that influence the painting's fame, the most notable aspect of the artwork is its realism and structure. Along with his interest in human anatomy, Leonardo da Vinci used artistic techniques such as "sfumato" and "anatomical torsion," as the video "Mona Lisa" describes, to create this mysterious and realistic portrait. Even though this painting can seem lost within the haze of tourism and capitalism in the modern day, it is one of the most important pieces of artwork from this time period. It is rarely comparable, but looking closer at other portraits from this time, such as Van Eyck's Portrait of a Man, one can better understand how incredible and essential portraits like this are from the Renaissance into the modern day.