Review Chapter Objectives and Terms before beginning the chapter

reading and activities.

Chapter 19 - Northern Europe - Chapter-at-a-Glance

 The Northern Renaissance

 Art for the French Ducal Courts |
Painting and Sculpture for the Chartreuse de Champmol |
Manuscript Illumination | Textiles
Art and Its Contexts: Altars and Altarpieces
 Painting in Flanders | The Master of Flémalle | Jan van Eyck |
Rogier van der Weyden | Painting at Mid Century: The Second Generation |
Hugo van der Goes and Hans Memling
Technique: Oil Painting
A Closer Look: A Goldsmith in His Shop
 France | Jean Fouquet and Jean Hey | Flamboyant Architecture
 The Germanic Lands | Painting and Sculpture | The Graphic Arts |
Printed Books
Technique: Woodcuts and Engravings on Metal

Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:
19.a Identify the visual hallmarks of fifteenth-century Northern European art for
formal, technical, and expressive qualities.
19.b Interpret the meaning of works of fifteenth-century Northern European art
based on their themes, subjects, and symbols.
19.c Relate fifteenth-century Northern European art and artists to their cultural,
economic, and political contexts.
19.d Apply the vocabulary and concepts relevant to fifteenth-century Northern
European art, artists, and art history.
19.e Interpret a work of fifteenth-century Northern European art using the art
historical methods of observation, comparison, and inductive reasoning.
19.f Select visual and textual evidence in various media to support an argument or
an interpretation of a work of fifteenth-century Northern European art.

Art 102 – 73619

Theresa Shellcroft, Instructor
Source: Stokstad, Vol. II, Pearson Publication, 6the
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions

Select three (3) of the following questions to address in a short

essay. At least one to one and one-half pages total. Double Space,
12 pt font, Times Roman font. Due April 3, 2020 25 points.

1. The delicate and luxurious International Gothic style was popular throughout
Europe in the fifteenth century. Select one work from this chapter that you think
exemplifies the style, and then explain your choice. What distinguishes this work
from earlier Gothic art?

2. The Très Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry (Figs. 19-5 and 19-6) alternated
scenes of court and peasant life. Examine the feast scene depicted for January.
How does this manuscript illumination convey the power and authority of the
duke? What visual clues would lead the viewer to know which figure in the
painting is the most important?

3. Instead of the tempera paint and frescos favored by Italian Renaissance artists,
Flemish painters often worked in oils. How do you think the properties of oil paint
might have impacted the style of Flemish painting? What differences can be seen
in terms of texture, scale, and light?

4. Renaissance depictions of religious scenes often set the narratives in present-day

surroundings. View the Mérode Altarpiece (Fig. 19-10). How did the artists
integrate the stories of the Annunciation and St. Joseph with elements of
fifteenth-century life? Why might an artist have wanted to place these biblical
stories in familiar surroundings?

5. Jan van Eyck’s Man in a Red Turban (Fig. 19-12) may be a self-portrait of the
artist. One piece of evidence for this theory is that the artist included his personal
motto at the top of the panel. Written in Greek letters, the text reads “As I can,
[but not as I would].” What do you think this means? Why might a painter have
selected this as his personal motto?

6. The invention of Gutenberg’s movable-type press revolutionized the circulation of

information in the fifteenth century. The technology would drastically reduce the
cost of printing books and would eventually lead to higher literacy rates
throughout Europe. These books were often illustrated with woodcuts or
engravings. What impact did works like the Nuremberg Chronicle have on the
graphic arts?

Art 102 – 73619

Theresa Shellcroft, Instructor
Source: Stokstad, Vol. II, Pearson Publication, 6the
Key Terms - Be sure to know these terms.

diptych matte woodblocks

triptych picture plane woodcuts
polyptych trompe l’oeil engraving
horizon line silverpoint intaglio
oil paint crockets burins

Art 102 – 73619

Theresa Shellcroft, Instructor
Source: Stokstad, Vol. II, Pearson Publication, 6the
Art 102 – 73619
Theresa Shellcroft, Instructor
Source: Stokstad, Vol. II, Pearson Publication, 6the