Day 24 - 15th Century Northern Europe Recap

At the start of the 15th Century Europe found itself still affected by the great schism - two popes, one in France and one in Rome until 1417 (1378-1417).  France and England were still fighting the Hundred Years War until 1453 (1337-1453). And Feudalism was coming to an end with movement toward centralized royal governments.  The new economic system created by an increase in interest and trade amongst European regions, with a center in the north of Bruges which is were the van de Beurse family was from - from Burges which was the wealthiest city in 15th-century Flanders.  In 1460 the first international commercial stock exchange was started in Antwerp in Belgium.

It was the influx of commodities and money from Florence into Northern Europe, an introduction of Oil Painting with bright pigments, and the development of printmaking that caused huge leaps in the art of Northern Europe during this time.  Many artist started out as goldsmiths that were immersed in the economy of Europe. Much of the art is controlled and developed by the Church, royalty or the wealthy - including among it's ranks the new merchant class.

Oil painting provided such a bright pallet for the painters in Northern Europe unlike anything seen up to this time... the colors in the fresco paintings from Italy pale in comparison to works by van Eyck, Broederlam, Campin, van der Wyden, etc.

Jan van Eyck, Flanders, oil painting, Ghent Altarpiece, 1432

Last Judgement Altarpiece
Weyden, Flanders, oil painting, c.1445-48

References:

1. Gardener's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, 13th ed., by  Fred S. Kleiner - Chapter 20
2. http://untitledsarah.blog62.fc2.com/blog-entry-63.html