Juxtapose North VS. SouthRenaissance Art

By:Samuel Fleming

The Two Painters Albrecht

Dürer (1471-1528)

A German born artist, Durer was a brilliant mind who began his career painting in the Imperial Free City of Nuernberg. He painted great works, yet his most famous works were his engravings in metal such as the Four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Knight, Death and the Devil

Leonardo da Vinci (1492-1519)An Italian born artist, Leonardo was the pinnacleof the renaissance man as his

skills were seemingly limitless as he

wasrevered for his talent as a painter, sculpture, architect, musician, scientist, and much more. His

impact On the Renaissance was profoundand was labeled the “renn. man”

The Works of Art• The two works of

Renaissance art that will be juxtaposed in this project are the “Last Supper” by Albrecht Durer (Top) and the “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (Bottom). The differing in style and meaning will be analyzed in the following. These two works of art are excellent examples of works from both the north and south renaissance eras and provide good contrasts for each.

Perspective - Space• Perspective was a developing

and constantly refined skill that is seen more expertly crafted in Southern art than in Northern art. In these examples specifically, the superior use of perspective through environmental space and human size is demonstrated through the Italian work of Leonardo. In his work, there is a greater depth of space, as each individual can appear to stand from the table and walk to the back of the room. In Durer’s work, the room is considerably smaller and more crowded.

Perspective – Secular vs Non Secular

Recognizing Vanishing Points• The vanishing point in both works

serve to explain the religious acceptance in the North verses the South. In Durer’s work, the vanishing point is very clearly the image of Jesus. Whereas the Italian piece has the vanishing point out in the landscape behind Jesus’ head. This goes to exemplify the non-secular views of the North, showing that God is the center, which coincides with the northern humanist movement around strengthening Christian religion The landscape holding the vanishing point in the Italian work shows how man looks beyond God which coincides with the southern humanist movements of classical antiquity.

Perspective – Secular vs Non Secular

recognizing Christ's divinity• Both paintings recognize the divinity

of Jesus however, both depicted it in different ways. The Northern work by Durer has a definitive symbol of Christ’s divinity using the rays of light coming forth from the head of Jesus. This, like a halo, signifies a saint, thus complimenting the non-secularism of the North.

• The south however, does no use a definitive symbol of divinity through the use of the open window to serve as Jesus’ halo. This emphasizes the secularism of the south as the divinity of Jesus is shown through the use of nature, strengthening the naturalist views of the south. Where Jesus cam be seen through nature and is not given a definitive divinity marker.

Perspective - Size• Size matters greatly when

comparing Northern art to Southern art. In the North, the art was more fashioned for alter décor, often being smaller in size. The etching by Albrecht Durer is 11 3/4 in x 8 1/4 in (29.85 cm x 20.96 cm) , thus proving the fact that the North valued smaller, less magnificent and focused more on respect than artistic awe

• The painting by Leonardo is significantly larger, 181.1" x 346.5" (460 cm x 880 cm), exemplifying the fact that the art in the south was painted large and grand, usually on walls, like this one, and in prominent places in society. Art was more used as a scenic decoration, than a alter piece.

11 3/4 in

8 1

/4 in

346 1/2 in

18

1 1

/10

in

Conclusion

• The two works of art create a juxtaposition to show the difference between the styles and parallels to society in the time of the Renaissance. In the North, non-secularism was prominent as seen with the definitive divinity of Christ, as well as the primitive artistic abilities compared to the south.

• In the south, art was a more flamboyant exercise, often flaunted in social places in walls and large murals. The styles and perspectives were superior to those of the North, as well as a profound secular mindset shown through the unclear divinity of Christ.