The Mirror of the Artist: Northern Renaissance Art in Its Historical Context

In this series accomplished authors accurately cover a range of subjects using up-to-date methodologies and impressive visual formats. This is the first book to present a broad overview of the art of the Renaissance from Northern Europe within its historical context. KEY TOPICS: It includes well known works and artists as well as a diverse selection of novel and intriguing images. It discusses issues and ideas of interest today, such as the status of women, elite vs. popular inspiration, and art as an instrument of propaganda, among others and provides comprehensive coverage of the Netherlands, Germany, and France in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Discussion of major political entities; Burgundian court, Holy Roman Empire, French and English monarchies, German cities and duchies; their relative power and prestige over time, their particularly make-up and artistic concern; the importance of ephemeral art in aristocratic circles. Also includes discussion of social and economic developments over two centuries; the position of the Catholic church and general characteristics and evaluation of intellectual life in 15th and 16th centuries. ÿ