Week 2 Northern Renaissance

The appearance of a nearly living figure seems to be one of the most important advancements of the northern renaissance. Through the medium of painting we can take a careful look at how the technological changes in the creation of the painting itself and the need of the everyday person to be closer to God played their part in the advancement of oil and brush. Paintings were on both sides of may works of art and originally was one of the lower crafts. We have a great deal to thank one artist for in this part of the world along with his ability to see and portrait a reality that is beyond all others before him.

Therefore painting was to become the most important form of art in this era. It began with the Illuminators whom used the printed page to spread their abilities and advancements. By making the greatest use of limited space while paying close attention to realist portrayals they were able to carry forth the art of painting in the miniature. Dealing primarily with the religious themes these artists spent time developing the illusion of space. In paintings that reminded the viewer of God and saints painters were bringing them into daily life.

One such man is the artist Jan Van Eyck. Van Eyck is the Northern Michelangelo his work is real in appearance. So incredibly modeled that the viewer is libel to be fooled into believing the figures of the piece to nearly step out and join us in our plane of existence.

A true 3 dimensional pictorial is an extremely difficult process in which to succeed. It is the paintings which are to be created that will bring about the birth of the northern renaissance. It comes not just at a time of great wealth but also at the height of religious dissention. In a desire to bring together a symbol of wealth and religious piety the patrons in all paying levels desired to have their portrait painted alone but will be delighted to be painted in the presence of a saint.

He discovered what could be done with layers of paint and glazes. In working to multiply the details within in addition to creating layers of both opaque and transparent layers he gave an image of life to those whom have gone before. Giving the work the appearance of being within our space rather than separate from it through modeling of not just the objects and subject within but by causing them to appear to interact with the light changes in the room they were housed. Due to his work painting rose in value however the documentary reminds us that he has never been surpassed and his techniques still live and breathe in modern artists just as he left them.

Common men began to seek out the artist requesting to have their own portraits created. The northern renaissance is more than just a step forward in the arts it is the affect that religion had upon society. Public works were often representative of the good and beneficial acts of the benefactor. Both the artist and others seemed to benefit financially and religiously by the funds used to create these works. It was also about the religious experience desired by all and believed obtainable by taking in visually the characters within. There seems to be an issue with how life and death along with religion touched each other in all planes of existence in his paintings causing them to be true works of art surpassed by no other.

Overall, the changes in the technology, religious beliefs, and social status made a previously less than desired craft into an art form we revere in museums today. Layers, glazes, and an ability to understand and use light and place to cause a work to interact with its viewer painting in the northern renaissance is at its height and will never be improved upon.