In c.1500 Italian influence flow toward the north and the artists of the north began to look at Italy for their inspiration. Although Late Gothic art still remained alive, it was greatly affected by the Reformation. The first stylistic developments in the first half of the century took place in Germany, the home of the Reformation.
Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), a famous German painter and printmaker, was elevated the status of art in the North and gain international fame by his painting. He traveled to Italy to seek instruction from Italian Renaissance artists and became an early and enthusiastic follower of Martin Luther. Durer s mature style was dominated by Italian ideals of monumentality and grandeur. His latest painting The four apostles was painted on one-paired panels between c.1523-26. It reveals his involvement with the new religious ideas of the Reformation. The apostles are based on Protestant doctrine by putting John and Paul facing each other in the foreground with Peter and Mark in the background. Each apostle represents one of the four temperaments and the cosmic quartets (the seasons, the elements, the times of day, and the ages of life).
Thus, this painting shows a different and individual way of experiencing God.
In the Netherlands, paintings continue to assimilate Italian art and replace the traditional religious subjects despite the religious and political strife when the Reformation began. Jan Gossaert (c.1478-1532), a great Flemish painter, was the first known artist who traveled to the south. He was impressed by the Renaissance and antiquity when he went to Italy, however his religious subjects were based on 15th century Netherlandish art. His painting Danae shows the development of northern artists of making the classical mythological subject matter into traditional religious one. In this painting, the god transformed into a shower of gold when entering the chamber where Danae was confined by her father. Danae is considered as modest as the Virgin in any Annunciation. The blue robe that she wears traditional to the Virgin Mary. The painting was influenced by Gossaert s visit to Italy. It shows the Romanism style in the architecture on the view through the colonnade of Danae s tower.
The Essay on Italy Family Italian World
Imagine riding through the waterways of Venice, Italy, taking in all the beautiful sights and smell of perfectly cooked pasta streaming from numerous waterfront restaurants. If I could be any place in the world right now, this is where I would be found. Italy's rich culture and celebrated history combined with its breathtaking scenery makes it a desired destination for anyone. Some of the main ...
France assimilated Italian form into their architecture shorter than in their painting and was the first country to achieve an integrated Renaissance style. The Chateau of Chambord (begun in 1519) was a classical symmetrical architecture. Its plan, and the turrets, high-pitched roofs, and the tall chimmeys, recall the Gothic Louvre. The square block center plan with a central staircase fed by four corridors form a Greek cross dividing the interior into four smaller square sections and each section is subdivided into one large room and two small rooms. This building design represents the starting point of all modern designs for living .