Artist: Claus Sluter

Title: Well of Moses

Date: 1395 - 1406

Location: Dijon France

Notes: Late Medieval sculpture in a cloister (a monastery) in dijon France, this is a series of sculptures above the well. We see an immense amount of movement and emotion in the clothing and facial expressions of the characters, and all of this really makes it a strong precursor to the renaissance art. 

Artist: Paul, Herman, and Jean Limbourg

Title: TRÈS RICHES HEURES

Date: 1411–1416

Notes: The illuminated manuscript is painted in the international gothic style and shows a common form of art that was used by the upper elite for their prayers and religion. The book utilizes many elements of living that are very common to gothic style which involve using the materials of the art form to show wealth such as the lapus skies and the gold emblems. 

Artist: Robert Campin (And Workshop)
Title: Mérode AltarPiece (Triptych of annunciation)

Date: 1425 - 1430

Details: Very typical of norther European art to have a scene from the bible painted in modern day style. This falls inline with many of the protestant ideas about bringing god closer to the individual and forming a more in depth personal relationship with god. It is also important to note the fine drapery depictions which are so typical of the northern art as well. Also notice a very intense focus on the physical world and on the accurate representation of the physical objects. The use of perspective also adds to the naturalism of the work, but also serves to bring the viewer into the scene by allowing every object in the room to be directly observed. It is also important to note that the increased need to represent physical objects comes from the mercantile culture of the north.

Artist: Jan Van Eyck

Title: Ghent Altarpiece

Date: 1432

Details: This piece is fucking crazy. The outside shows an austere interior setting that is typical of arrangements of the north with a focus on naturalism and on the representation of the holy and the contemporary world in the same pieces. The outside is the annunciation scene. There is a portrayal of modern day Ghent on the window near Gabriel and Mary has the household objects near her which are common of the era when Marry was represented with modern day "holy" domestic objects around her.

When the altar piece is open we see the sacrifice of the holy lamb, adam and eve, and many crowds moving towards the center of the frame. This is a change that overcomes the gothic division of the frames. In the background of the frame we see a gothic building of Ghent from the time and we see the beautiful landscape setting. 

Artist: Jan Van Eyck

Title: The Arnolifni Portrait

Date: 1434

Details: Depicts a wealthy merchant of burges. In many ways, this portrait is all about his wealth. It shows him in expensive clothing surrounded by expensive household furnishings. There is a lot of symbolism in this era. So the fact that their shoes are off shows that this is a sacred event, and the single candle lit is either a memento mori or a signal that god is in the room. Moreover, the dog may be a symbol of loyalty and fidelity. The mirror depicting the room we are in is a very interesting representation of the scene because it places us as observers in the scene. There is also an immense attention to detail. Notice the little christ figures around the mirror which are almost unintelligible, in reproduction, but in person are intelligible despite the fact that they are only the size of half of a fingernail. The orange on the windowsill in contrast to their thick coats is interesting because it shows that they may have imported the fruit. This painting also uses the oils to create a deep richness in color that can't really be matched by tempura. That is how the clothes are represented so darn well. The odd use of perspective and the crowded room of course are all indicative of the northern renaissance as opposed to the southern renaissance. 

Artist: Rogier Van Der Weyden

Title: Deposition

Date: 1435-1438

Details: Very typical flemish norther renaissance painting. We see those heavy drapery clothing, the elongated figures in the crammed in space, the focus on the light interacting with the metallic embroidery. Every meticulous and microscopic bit of detail. There is some use of space, but not the same as the contemporaries like Van Eyck. Unlike other contemporary northern painters, the figures are given extensive emotion. The tears of Marry are realistic and all0w us to empathize with her. So much focus in this time on allowing people to identify with the figures of their religion. Marry's pose echoes christ's poses. This creates a connection between her and christ. The skull could be a momento mori, or the skull of adam because in traditional christian teaching it is said that christ was crucified on adam's grave, and therefore we see Christ and Marry redeeming humanity from the original sin.

Artist: Unknown, South Netherlandish, Currently in the cloisters at the met.

Title: Unicorn in Captivity

Date: 1495-1505

Details: Woven hanging tapestry that is the last in a series... maybe? We don't know much about the series. The plant life is all identifiable and is indicative of the close observation of the natural world in renaissance paintings. The painting has a very flat abstract landscape and background. The unicorn may be a christ figure. And the unicorn can only be captured by a virgin, like marry. But also, the unicorn is chained (golden chain) to a pomegranate tree which symbolizes fertility and marriage, which is quite confusing. This may also just be a 21st century search for meaning where there never was suppose to be one. There are an a A and backwards E throughout the painting which may indicate the patrons, but we really just don't know at all. Also, this is dyed silk, so super fucking expensive.

Artist: Hieronymus Bosch

Title: Garden Of Earthly Delights

Date: 1505 - 1515

Details: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/northern/hieronymus-bosch/a/bosch-the-garden-of-earthly-delights

Artist: Michael Pacher

Title: St. Wolfgang Altarpiece

Date: 1471-1481

Details: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/northern/england-france-tyrol/v/pacher-st-wolfgang-altarpiece-c-1479-8