Early Netherlandish painting

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History of Dutch and Flemish painting
Early Netherlandish  (1400 – 1500)
Renaissance painting  (1500 – 1584)
Dutch "Golden Age" painting  (1584 – 1702)
List of Dutch painters
List of Flemish painters

Early Netherlandish painting[1] is a term art historians use to designate a group of painters who were active primarily in the Low Countries in the 15th and early 16th centuries, approximately the period starting with Van Eyck and ending with Gerard David.They embodied at the same time the culmination of the Middle Ages and the transition to Renaissance.

The period corresponds to the Italian Renaissance, but the style is generally not seen as a part of the Renaissance[2]. The art is usually categorized as Early Renaissance or Late Gothic painting.

Contents

[edit] Designation

"The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration  of the Lamb" shows how important medieval elements still are.
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"The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration of the Lamb" shows how important medieval elements still are.

There is no consensus regarding the name given to this group. The painting is also called Late Gothic, emphasizing the continuity with the Middle Ages[3]. In some languages (for example Dutch and Spanish) the 15th century painters are known as the Flemish Primitives, not so much because their art lacked sophistication, but because they were at the origin of a whole new tradition in painting with the use of oil paint, instead of tempera. This term used to be common in English until about the end of the nineteenth century, and is falling into disuse in all languages.

During the 15th to mid 16th centuries, Flanders (currently in Belgium), and parts of today's Netherlands were under the domain, respectively, of the Dukes of Burgundy and the Hapsburg dynasty. Thus, in this period, Flemish and Netherlandish are often used interchangeably. Many of the painters were not Flemish but came to work in the flourishing cities of Bruges and Ghent, which were centers of international banking and trade.

A clear difference with the Italian Renaissance is the importance of religious symbolism. Man is not put in the center of the Universe. Signs of the new age are visible, however. Artists begin to sign their works and become stars instead of craftsmen. Wealthy merchants order paintings for the glory of God, but also request portraits.

[edit] Relation to the Italian Renaissance

The new style emerged in Flanders almost simultaneously with the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. The masters were very much admired in Italy, and may have had a bigger influence in Italy then the other way around. Renaissance did not have a big influence in the north until 1500. However, while in Italy we see radical changes in architecture, sculpture and philosophy as well, the revolution in Flanders is restricted to painting[4]. For painting in the period after 1500 and before the Dutch Revolt, see Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting

[edit] List of Painters

[edit] Timeline by year

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References and Further Reading

    General - Introductory

    General - In Depth

    Museum Catalogs

    Relation to Contemporary European Art:

    Historical Information about the 15th-Century Burgundian Court:

    In other languages