Wonderful essay. I learned things I did not know before. 1000 Scudi? Humph. I enjoy reading dishy articles like this in which one actually learns things. Good job, Hillary! Can't wait for the next chapter.
While reading it struck me that 'artists' in the North remained craftsmen far longer than artists in the South. Think of Bloemaert. Who was it who came along and did the equivolent of Vassari's Magnum Opus about Northern artists? Was it Karl van Mander? Just thinking out loud.
I am a dealer in paintings & drawings and my days of dealing with Northern paintings are over. They stretched from the Master of Alkmaar thru Bloemaert, Rubens and Rembrandt.
I haven’t read it yet but the opening lines got a YES-S-S-S from me. Bugger the Renaissance. Shakespeare was raised on medieval mystery plays — that’s why he was so good at his job. All else Renaissance can pretty much hang. (Other than the Northern Renaissance — the Flemish painters, and the occasional Spaniard get a pass, but they had a taste for the medieval too. Shall now read your post and see where we agree.
Outstanding article! Very informative and thought provoking.
I absolutely appreciate the Italian Renaissance (although, to be fair, I prefer the architecture and the sculpture over the fine art).
BUT my main gripe with the Renaissance (or, rather, with what we’ve made it out to be in the interceding centuries) is that the hyperfixation on this period has completely and unjustifiably overshadowed the preceding 1,000 years of artistic, philosophical, scientific and engineering feats of the Eastern Roman Empire and its adjacent civilisations in Southeastern and Eastern Europe (Kievan Rus’, the First and Second Bulgarian Empires, etc.). Sadly most of the tangible legacy has been irretrievably lost to the Mongol and Ottoman invasions.
Hilary - I’ve loved medieval art and architecture for decades but I always admit this with a blush of embarrassment as the rhetoric of The Renaissance is so dogmatically and selfishly dominant. Your iconoclasm is welcome haha (I know you are critical not iconoclastic but actually it kind of is). Thank you for enlightening us (though pun intended). I loved this article and find your work so generous and interesting. Thank you very much.
Wonderful essay. I learned things I did not know before. 1000 Scudi? Humph. I enjoy reading dishy articles like this in which one actually learns things. Good job, Hillary! Can't wait for the next chapter.
While reading it struck me that 'artists' in the North remained craftsmen far longer than artists in the South. Think of Bloemaert. Who was it who came along and did the equivolent of Vassari's Magnum Opus about Northern artists? Was it Karl van Mander? Just thinking out loud.
I am a dealer in paintings & drawings and my days of dealing with Northern paintings are over. They stretched from the Master of Alkmaar thru Bloemaert, Rubens and Rembrandt.
Until your next missive ... Richard Collins
I’m not anybody much and don’t have anything important to say. But a big thank you for this opportunity to see. God bless.
Well, you're a regular, so that makes you somebody.
I haven’t read it yet but the opening lines got a YES-S-S-S from me. Bugger the Renaissance. Shakespeare was raised on medieval mystery plays — that’s why he was so good at his job. All else Renaissance can pretty much hang. (Other than the Northern Renaissance — the Flemish painters, and the occasional Spaniard get a pass, but they had a taste for the medieval too. Shall now read your post and see where we agree.
I'd like to explore some day the connection between usury and the Renaissance.
This is a not inconsiderable object of interest. (pun intended)
Outstanding article! Very informative and thought provoking.
I absolutely appreciate the Italian Renaissance (although, to be fair, I prefer the architecture and the sculpture over the fine art).
BUT my main gripe with the Renaissance (or, rather, with what we’ve made it out to be in the interceding centuries) is that the hyperfixation on this period has completely and unjustifiably overshadowed the preceding 1,000 years of artistic, philosophical, scientific and engineering feats of the Eastern Roman Empire and its adjacent civilisations in Southeastern and Eastern Europe (Kievan Rus’, the First and Second Bulgarian Empires, etc.). Sadly most of the tangible legacy has been irretrievably lost to the Mongol and Ottoman invasions.
You have just pinpointed the purpose of my entire endeavour.
And what an unsuitable measure man is.
I am sure Thomas Aquinas (born 1225) is a sterling example of those big bad “Dark Ages.”
The so called 'renaissance' produced some pretty pictures but I would sacrifice all of that in a minute to get rid of its accursed philosophy
Brilliant, lots to think about!
Hilary - I’ve loved medieval art and architecture for decades but I always admit this with a blush of embarrassment as the rhetoric of The Renaissance is so dogmatically and selfishly dominant. Your iconoclasm is welcome haha (I know you are critical not iconoclastic but actually it kind of is). Thank you for enlightening us (though pun intended). I loved this article and find your work so generous and interesting. Thank you very much.
In the metaphorical sense, yes, I am. And yes, it's ironically funny.