Renaissance of Northern Europe and Italian Renaissance

Introduction

The Northern Renaissance is the overall heading usually given to non-Italian Western European art of the period ca. 1420-ca. 1600. It therefore parallels the Italian Renaissance and, like it, overlaps the so-called International Gothic at the beginning of its development and the Baroque at its end. As in Italy, the later stages of this period tend to be absorbed by the so-called Mannerist style. The concept of "Renaissance" is based upon the idea of a rebirth of interest in the forms and content of Classical art, and was originally formulated with specific reference to Italian ...