The Northern Renaissance

Italian Ren. spread to N. Euro.French Ren., English Ren., etc.

1453:Flanders—Ren. developed here first, had $$$

$$$Fr. & Eng. = monarchies (patrons) N. Euros. studied in Italian universities

Took ideas back to native lands

II. The Spread of Ideas1494: Fr. King (Charles VIII) claimed throne

of Naples—launched invasion b/c of war, Italians fled to N. Euro.

A. German Painters1. Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)

Journied to ItalyProduced woodcuts & copper engravings (best

known for)“Knight, Death, and the Devil” (realism & symbolism)

Portrayed religious subjects, classical myths, & realistic landscapes

helped spread Ren. ideas

“Knight, Death, and the Devil”

2. Hans Holbein (1497-1543) Influenced by Durer’s realismSpecialized in painting portraits (photogenic

in detail)Emigrated to Eng. (painted royals) (King Henry VIII)Also, “Portrait of Erasmus” & “Portrait of More”

“Portrait of Erasmus” “Portrait of More”

B. Flemish Painters Flanders: artistic center of N. Euro. 1. Jan van Eyck (1385-1440)

First great Ren. painter Perfected oil painting (painted greater realism &

detail) Spread to Italy

“Wedding Portrait” & “The Adoration of the Lamb”

“Wedding Portrait”

“The Adoration of the Lamb”

2. Pieter Brugel – painted in mid-1500s Interested in realistic details & individual people Painted the countryside & peasants of Flanders

(festivals, dances, weddings, & harvests) Criticized the intolerance & cruelty he saw “Peasant Wedding” (1568)

“Peasant Wedding”

III. The Reform of Northern Society Italian humanists = revival of classical

languages & texts N. humanists criticized Christian Church of

failing to inspire people to lead Christian lives

Christian Humanism—REFORM SOCIETY!

A. Christian Humanists 1. Desiderus Erasmus (1466-1536)

Dutch humanist, very-well traveled throughout Euro. he was THE scholar of Euro. whose writings were read everywhere 1509: “The Praise of Folly” –his most famous---satire

“Folly” = “human nature” Described many things that were wrong and needed correcting

1. merchants (they lie, swear, cheat, & practice all intrigues of dishonesty)

2. lawyers (they of all men have the greatest conceit of their own abilities)

3. scholastic philosophers (that talk as much by rote as a parrot)4. scientists (who esteem themselves the only favorites of wisdom, &

look upon the rest of mankind as the dirt & rubbish of creation) 5. churchmen/monks (impudent pretenders to the profession of piety)6. popes, cardinals, & bishops (who in pomp & splendor have almost

equalled, if not outdone, secular princes) In order to improve society, STUDY THE BIBLE!!

2. Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)Most significant EnglishWrote “Utopia”—first important description of an

ideal stateContrasted a fictitious land (Utopia— “Land of Nowhere”)

w/the harsh conditions of England Blamed capitalism for misery of lower classesMore felt that governments are a conspiracy of the rich, who

in pretence of managing the public, only pursue their private ends,…first that they may, without danger, preserve all that they have so ill acquired, and then, that they may engage the poor to toil and labor for them at as low rates as possible, and oppress them as much as they please.

In “Utopia” –no one is in want b/c economy is planned & cooperative—property is held in common

More’s imaginary sailor stated:In all other places, it is visible that while people talk of a

commonwealth, every man only seeks his own wealth: but there, where no man has any property, all men zealously pursue the good of the public.…In Utopia, where every man has a right to everything, they all know that if care is taken to keep the public stores full, no private man can want anything; for among them there is no unequal distribution, so that no man is poor, none in necessity; and though no man has anything, yet they are all rich; for what can make a man so rich as to lead a serene and cheerful life, free from anxieties; neither apprehending want himself, nor vexed with the endless complaints of his wife?

More = first modern English socialist Economic outlook = legacy of M.A.

Preferred medieval collectivism over modern economic individualism

Also, preferred a Church-led state (medieval) by popes rather than by kings