Early Renaissance painting

Early Renaissance painting bridges the period of art history between the art of the Middle Ages and the art of the Renaissance in Europe.

Two regions of Europe were particularly artistically active during this period: northern Europe (essentially Flanders) and Italy.

The works of art of this period feature mainly religious themes (the Church was the main client of these artists), but also some purely figurative themes.

The use of perspective is also notable in these paintings.

The religious symbolism is largely drawn from the work of Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend (1260).

The Renaissance is considered to have reached northern Europe in the 16th century. Thus, most of the Early Renaissance works in northern Europe were produced between 1420 and 1550.

Table of contents

1 Flemish artists 2 German artists 3 Italian artists 4 Works 5 Main viewing locations

Flemish artists

• Hieronymus Bosch (c.1460-1518)
• Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c.1520-1569)
• Robert Campin (c.1380-1444)
• Petrus Christus
• Joos van Cleve
• Gerard David (c.1455–1523)
• Hubert van Eyck (1366?-1426)
• Jan van Eyck (1385?-1440?)
• Hugo van der Goes
• Hans Memling (c.1430-1494)
• Joachim Patinir
• Roger van der Weyden (c.1400-1464)

German artists

• Albrecht Altdorfer (c.1480-1538)
• Hans Baldung (c.1480-1545), Alsatian
• Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553)
• Lucas Cranach the Younger (1515-1586)
• Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Italian artists

• Fra Angelico (c.1395-1455)
• Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337)

Works

• Ghent Altarpiece, by Hubert and Jan van Eyck

Main viewing locations

• Musee Communal des Beaux-Arts, Bruges, Belgium
• Groenigemuseum, Ghent, Belgium
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
• Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain - for works of Hieronymus Bosch
• Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, London - opened in 1991

The Pre-Raphaelite painters of the 19th century - literally before Raphael (1483-1520) - copied the style of Early Renaissance paintings.

See also: International Gothic