Italian Art Vs Northern Renaissance Art

Throughout history, art has been used as a tool for documenting social, political, religious, and historical events of a particular era. During the renaissance, interests in Italy and the North differed. In Italy, there was a greater interest in the revival of the classics, “primarily, the concern for the theory and history of art” (Stechow p.3-L5). The North, true to its more humanistic approach to art, seemed more interested in the more personal aspects of the artists and the public he was painting for. It also seems that they esteemed their painters far more greatly in the North. Artists in both Italy and Northern Europe relied heavily on patronage to provide funding for their artistic endeavors. Because of their great interests in the classical

Based on historical readings, it would also appear that artists of the Italian renaissance were victims of the manipulations of the Catholic Church. They lacked creative freedom, and had to bow and band to the source of their income, which was often the Church or private patronage seeking to secure themselves a place in heaven.

In an effort to secure themselves a degree of legitimacy, there was a controversy among artists as to whether painting or sculpture was the superior art form and which one would “secure them a higher social status. Yet free them from corporative rules and restrictions” (Klein p.4). In another words, they wanted freedom of expression as well as a job security. After all, they have to give the patronage what they wanted. It would appear that one of the primary efforts of the renaissance artist, especially in Italy, was to ensure that they would be respected as artists. Artists of this period felt that by educating themselves in all of the liberal arts, which included poetry and music in addition to visual art, as well as science and mathematics, was a step in the right direction to accomplish this.

Whereas the themes of Italian artist were almost entirely religious, the artists of the Netherlands used their skills in color, light, and prospection to capture everyday life and the history of the times they lived in. The Italians obsession with Classicism and glorification of the human form stood in a stark contrast to the Northern artists’ depiction of the human form as it really was. As the artists of the North and Italy began travelling, there were an opportunity to see how the artists of the other country painted. While the North held the Italian obsession with religious art in disdain, the Italians, though praising the use of color and light in the Northern artists work, felt that their subject matter was unworthy of being called the great art. As Michelangelo stated in Francisco da Hollanda’s, Michelangelo presents us with the Italian arrogant attitude towards painters outside of Italy. “Therefore I declare that no nation or people (I accept on or two Spaniards) can perfectly attain or imitate the Italian manner of painting (which is that of ancient Greece) in such a way that it would not immediately be seen to be foreign, however much they may strive in toil. And if by some great miracle one of them attains excellent in painting, then, even though is aim were not to imitate Italy,