History of World Art II: Day 22 - 15th Century Northern European Sculpture

During the15th Century Northern European oil painting and printmaking were the areas of art the saw the most development. In the sculpture of the Northern Renaissance, the influence of Late Gothic style lingers on. The carving that was being done was done for churches in the form of large wooden retables and alter-pieces - of devotional and highly charged religious scenes.

The figures are carved in high relief and with much humanism and drama of setting within the sculpture done during this time. One extremely beautiful wooden example is the Virgin's Assumption which was done by Tilman Riemenschneider for the alter-piece of a parish church in Creglingen, Germany. Tilman incorporates beautiful and intricate Gothic decorations within the piece and each face has it's own expression as they experience the moment. When the altarpiece is open, there are arched windows that actually let in light behind the figures and the whole scene is housed in a creche or frame of a larger beautiful Gothic arch where the figures seem to float weightlessly.

Tilman Riemenschneider (1460-1531), Creglingen Altarpiece c. 1495

Another great Northern European scluptor from, was Claus Sluter a Flemish sculptor (?-1406) possibly originally from Holland, he was active in Burgundy, France. He was a great influence on Donatello, and his sculpture of the Well of Moses shows intense expression and emotion upon the faces of the subjects of this dramatic and impressive work. He created a sculptural symbolic fountain of life.