Social and cultural similarities and differences between Italian and Northern European Renaissance art

¶ … Renaissance:

A Comparison between the Italian and Northern European Renaissance

World history is a fascinating subject, especially when one takes into account the multi-dimensional, often heavy impact changes that are constantly taking place, and that often change the course of history in a way in which it could have never been imagined. After the Dark Ages, for instance, the Renaissance or "rebirth," a period of artistic-related growth across Europe, was one such change that literally pulled Europe out of the deterioration in which it found itself after the fall of the Roman Empire, and put it on a path of regrowth that was so replete with creativity that many scholars are still talking about it today. In order to better understand these historical changes, this paper will examine the Renaissance, for it was a very complex movement, in order to understand it better, and will do so by comparing the Italian and North-European Renaissance by addressing similarities and differences in the two fields.

In Italy, the Renaissance came toward the end of the 14th century, with a number of Italian intellectuals and artists beginning to think about this period as a "new age." This "rebirth" they stated, was in learning, literature, art and culture. During this period, Italy was very different from other European places that existed during the age that, as one can see below, had their own Renaissance movements. Yet in the divided, city-state based Italy, Florence led the way. Due to the wealth of this city, men of power became patrons of artists and intellectual, leading their independent republic to become a leading city in helping the movement grow.

Due to the patronage of these wealthy individuals, Italian painters, writers and scientists began to enjoy worldly pleasures and travel around Italy to learn, as they did not need a job in order to earn their income. Many wanted to study classical wisdom, which they believed held the most important lessons. Humanism, or a view upon man as being the center of the universe, encouraged knowledge and experimentation, and these concepts soon replaced superstition and scientific lack of knowledge.

It is during this period that the most famous names in history are born, namely DaVinci, Galileo, Brunelleschi, just to name a few, who contributed to our knowledge of physics, anatomy, the universe and architecture, among other things.

In the North great developments were taking place as well. For instance, there was also an emphasis here on innovation, especially scientifically. Perhaps the most important technological development of this period took place in Germany, where Johannes Gutenberg "invented the mechanical movable-type printing press in the middle of the 15th century. For the first time, it was possible to make books -- and, by extension, knowledge -- widely available."

Thus, both in the South, in Italy and in the North, in Germany there were many scientific and technological innovations taking place, thus evidencing the similarity between the two places.

Despite the above mentioned similarity between these two regions, it is important to also note differences. For instance, in the North, Martin Luther began a huge religious movement known as the Reformation, which was a cultural and social different that still persists between the two regions.

Another difference was the fact that in the North, many movements took a different focus, even if artistic, intellectual, or scientific. Despite that fact that similarities existed such as the fact that both regions did focus on a rebirth, on art, on science, etc. And on innovation in general and shared a humanistic approach it is important to say here that the way they went about it was completely different. With regards to writing, for example, in the North, graphic arts dominated, whereas in such places as Florence, Dante-like texts were born.

Perhaps no other relationship between the two regions in the period was as clear as the focus on the arts, as these were truly the most visible changes in the Renaissance and most distinguishable changes from previous periods.

During the Italian Renaissance, art was omnipresent. In Florence alone, the Medici family sponsored many projects, and many of the artists sponsored became celebrities overnight. These include: Massachio, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Tintoretto, Bellini, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Ghiberti, Giotto and of course, Raphael.

These artists applied the same humanist principles referenced above in their arts. With painting, for example, artists in Florence utilized tempera and fresco. These techniques gave "life" to the paintings, as well as brightness and dimensionality, which were almost absent from art previous to this age. According to research, "These are the qualities of the High Renaissance style: simplicity; austere rejection of the incidental and the merely pretty; nobility and grandeur in the figures involved in actions of depth and significance. This was the style of Raphael at the peak of his career, of Michelangelo at one point, and of Andrea del Sarto and Correggio."

In the North, art was also a very important part of the Renaissance; however, as above, there were many differences between the two. The reason for differences, were due to the fact that, although Renaissance artists in the North, such as Duerer and Bruegel were affected by Italian renaissance as they visited the country, their own culture and indigeousness, as well as the uniqueness of the places in which they lived, also influenced their art. Thus, though there were similarities, there were also differences between the art in these two places.