The art from the Northern Renaissance strongly differs the art from the Italian Renaissance. One major difference between them is that art from the Italian Renaissance was more classical, while art from the Northern Renaissance was much more medieval. While both styles share similarities, it is the small, yet important, details that show that Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance art are quite different.
Art in the Italian Renaissance was very focused on humanistic ideas.
During this time period, there were not a lot of investment opportunities, so wealthy people started to fund the arts. This influenced painting, sculptures, and architecture. During the Italian Renaissance, painting style changed from spiritual iconography and unrealistic color palettes to realistic depictions of people. They began using a technique called “sfumato.” This is a technique that uses soft, blurred edges as opposed to hard, bold, rigid outlines. This technique, as well as realistic shadows, was used, most famously, in Leonardo’s Mona Lisa (as shown here).
Paintings also now have more earthly backgrounds. Frescoes also became very popular during the Italian Renaissance. Fresco is the technique of painting on wet plaster. People appreciated the large-scale, matte design and style of the frescoes. Sculptures began to focus on the realistic features of the human body and contrapposto. One of the most famous sculptures from this time period is Michelangelo’s David (as shown here). The Renaissance style of art was also showcased in architecture. Art, as well as architecture, began to place an emphasis on balance. The Italian Renaissance was mainly focused on an appreciation for humanism, as well as balance.
Northern Renaissance art differs greatly from that of the Italian Renaissance. On trend with the aforementioned medieval qualities portrayed in the art of the Northern Renaissance, artists would hide the human bodies in their paintings. While Italian Renaissance artists would portray the human body in a very idealistic way, Northern Renaissance artists, while maintaining the realistic aspects of the human body, would cover their figures in clothes or, more commonly, drapery.
