💅🏽Early Renaissance Art in Italy Unit 11 – International Gothic in Italian Art

What's International Gothic?

• Style of art that emerged in late 14th and early 15th centuries across Europe
• Characterized by elegant, elongated figures with flowing draperies and intricate details
• Influenced by French Gothic art and the courtly culture of the time
• Represents a refinement and internationalization of the Gothic style
• Coincided with the rise of the Burgundian court and the Hundred Years' War
• Reflected the tastes and values of the aristocracy and the wealthy merchant class
• Emphasized beauty, grace, and sophistication over naturalism and realism
• Served as a bridge between the High Gothic and Early Renaissance periods

Key Artists and Works

• Gentile da Fabriano (Adoration of the Magi, 1423)
  • Italian painter known for his detailed, decorative style and use of gold leaf
• Pisanello (Portrait of a Princess, c. 1435-1440)
  • Italian painter and medallist renowned for his elegant, refined portraits
• Lorenzo Monaco (Coronation of the Virgin, 1414)
  • Florentine painter who blended Gothic and Renaissance elements in his altarpieces
• Jacquemart de Hesdin (Très Belles Heures du Duc de Berry, c. 1410)
  • French illuminator who worked for the Duke of Berry, creating lavishly decorated manuscripts
• The Limbourg Brothers (Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, c. 1412-1416)
  • Dutch miniaturists who created one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts of the period
• Giovannino de' Grassi (Visconti Hours, c. 1395)
  • Italian illuminator who worked for the Visconti family in Milan, known for his naturalistic marginalia

Stylistic Features

• Elongated, graceful figures with small heads and slender, curved bodies
• Flowing, elaborate draperies with intricate folds and patterns
• Rich, vibrant colors, often enhanced with gold leaf and other precious materials
• Detailed, decorative backgrounds with architectural elements, landscapes, and symbolic motifs
• Emphasis on linear rhythm and pattern over volume and mass
• Idealized, stylized facial features with high foreheads, small mouths, and almond-shaped eyes
• Hieratic scale, with important figures shown larger than others
• Integration of text and image in illuminated manuscripts

Historical Context

• Emerged during a period of political instability and social upheaval in Europe
  • Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453)
  • Great Schism of the Western Church (1378-1417)
• Coincided with the rise of powerful courts and wealthy patrons, such as the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry
• Reflected the tastes and values of the aristocracy and the growing merchant class
• Influenced by the courtly culture of chivalry, romance, and pageantry
• Benefited from increased trade and cultural exchange across Europe
• Coexisted with the early stages of the Italian Renaissance in the early 15th century
• Represented a refinement and internationalization of the Gothic style

Influence on Italian Art

• Introduced new themes, such as the adoration of the Magi and the Madonna of Humility
• Inspired Italian artists to adopt more decorative, elaborate styles
• Contributed to the development of the Italian predella, a series of small narrative scenes below the main panel of an altarpiece
• Influenced the work of early Italian Renaissance artists, such as Gentile da Fabriano and Pisanello
• Encouraged the use of precious materials, such as gold leaf and ultramarine blue
• Promoted the exchange of ideas and techniques between Northern and Southern Europe

Regional Variations

• French International Gothic (Parisian court style)
  • Characterized by elongated figures, flowing draperies, and intricate details
  • Exemplified by the Limbourg Brothers and Jacquemart de Hesdin
• Italian International Gothic (Sienese and Florentine styles)
  • Blended Gothic and Renaissance elements, with a greater emphasis on volume and naturalism
  • Represented by artists such as Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da Fabriano
• Bohemian International Gothic (Prague court style)
  • Influenced by the Parisian court style but with a more expressive, dynamic character
  • Exemplified by the Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece and the Master of the Vyšší Brod Cycle
• English International Gothic (Perpendicular style)
  • Characterized by tall, narrow proportions, elaborate tracery, and rich decoration
  • Represented by the Westminster Abbey and the Winchester Cathedral

Legacy and Transition to Renaissance

• Served as a bridge between the High Gothic and Early Renaissance periods
• Influenced the development of courtly art and culture in the 15th century
• Contributed to the spread of new artistic ideas and techniques across Europe
• Paved the way for the more naturalistic and humanistic art of the Italian Renaissance
  • Artists began to focus more on perspective, anatomy, and the individual
• Coexisted with the early stages of the Renaissance in the early 15th century
• Gradually gave way to the new Renaissance style in the mid-15th century
• Left a lasting impact on the decorative arts, such as tapestries, metalwork, and manuscripts

Fun Facts and Trivia

• The term "International Gothic" was coined by the French art historian Louis Courajod in the 19th century
• The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, one of the most famous illuminated manuscripts of the period, features a detailed calendar section with scenes of peasant life and seasonal activities
• Gentile da Fabriano's Adoration of the Magi altarpiece includes a depiction of a giraffe, which was a rare and exotic animal in 15th-century Italy
• The Limbourg Brothers, who created the Très Riches Heures, were among the first artists to depict realistic landscapes and atmospheric effects in their miniatures
• Pisanello was also renowned for his portrait medals, which helped to revive the ancient art of medallic portraiture in the Renaissance
• The International Gothic style influenced the design of playing cards, which became popular in Europe during the 15th century
• The famous Unicorn Tapestries, now in the Cloisters Museum in New York, are a prime example of International Gothic textile art