10.2 The International Gothic style in painting and sculpture

The International Gothic style emerged in the late 14th century, blending courtly elegance with religious themes. It united artistic trends across Europe, featuring intricate designs, vibrant colors, and abundant gold leaf in manuscripts and panel paintings.

Key artists like the Limbourg Brothers and Jan van Eyck pushed the boundaries of technique and realism. Their works, such as the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, showcased the style's opulence and attention to detail, setting the stage for the Northern Renaissance.

International Gothic Style

Characteristics and Themes

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• International Gothic emerged as a court style in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, spreading across Europe and unifying artistic trends
• Courtly love, a popular theme in International Gothic art, depicts idealized and romanticized representations of love and chivalry (knights, ladies)
• Manuscript illumination reached new heights during this period with intricate designs, vibrant colors, and abundant gold leaf (Books of Hours)
• Panel painting gained prominence as an art form, allowing for portable and private devotional works
• Decorative elements such as patterned backgrounds, ornate clothing, and detailed architectural features are hallmarks of the International Gothic style
• Elongated figures with graceful, swaying poses and elegant drapery are characteristic of International Gothic art, emphasizing refinement and idealization

Techniques and Media

• Manuscript illumination techniques involved applying gold leaf, tempera paints, and intricate linework to parchment pages
• Panel painting techniques included the use of oil paints, which allowed for greater detail, transparency, and depth compared to tempera
• Artists employed techniques such as modeling, shading, and highlighting to create a sense of volume and depth in their figures and compositions
• The use of expensive pigments, such as ultramarine blue and vermilion red, added to the luxurious and opulent nature of International Gothic art (illuminated manuscripts, altarpieces)

Key Artists

Limbourg Brothers

• The Limbourg Brothers (Paul, Herman, and Johan) were Dutch miniature painters known for their exquisite illuminated manuscripts
• They worked for the Duke of Berry, creating the famous Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, a lavishly illustrated Book of Hours
• The brothers' works showcase their mastery of the International Gothic style, with detailed landscapes, rich colors, and elegant figures

Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin

• Jan van Eyck, a Flemish painter, is considered one of the most significant artists of the Northern Renaissance
• Van Eyck's works, such as the Ghent Altarpiece and the Arnolfini Portrait, demonstrate his exceptional skill in oil painting and his attention to detail
• Robert Campin, also known as the Master of Flémalle, was a Flemish painter who played a crucial role in the development of Early Netherlandish painting
• Campin's works, such as the Mérode Altarpiece, showcase his ability to convey emotional depth and create convincing spatial illusions

Gentile da Fabriano

• Gentile da Fabriano was an Italian painter who worked in the International Gothic style
• His most famous work, the Adoration of the Magi altarpiece, exemplifies the opulence, refinement, and narrative complexity of the International Gothic style
• Fabriano's works are characterized by their rich colors, intricate details, and skillful rendering of materials such as gold and textiles

Notable Works

Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

• The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a lavishly illuminated Book of Hours created by the Limbourg Brothers for the Duke of Berry
• The manuscript features over 130 miniatures depicting religious scenes, calendar pages, and scenes from daily life
• The calendar pages are particularly notable for their detailed depictions of seasonal activities and landscapes, showcasing the artists' keen observation of nature

Naturalism in International Gothic Art

• Naturalism, the accurate representation of the visible world, began to emerge in International Gothic art
• Artists started to incorporate more realistic details in their works, such as convincing depictions of fabrics, objects, and landscapes (shadows, reflections)
• The increasing interest in naturalism laid the foundation for the development of the Northern Renaissance style in the 15th century
• Notable examples of naturalism in International Gothic art include the Limbourg Brothers' Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry and Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece