
The Northern Renaissance: 1400s

Diptych of Maarten van Nieuwenhove is one of the most important diptychs of the fifteenth century, both for its innovative subject matter and condition.

What's the difference between classic art, classical art, and classicism?
Classic, classical, and classicism explained

What does the Virgin Mary look like?
Rogier van der Weyden, Saint Luke Drawing ...

Late-medieval and early modern northern European workshops operated on the principles of cooperative learning and collaboration.
The role of the workshop in late ...

A massive, over-life-sized sculptural group of St. George and the Dragon in the City Church of St. Nicholas, Stockholm reads like a fairy tale.
St. George and the Dragon, Storkyrkan Stockholm

We stand on a Bruges street and approach a goldsmith’s shop. Hang on, is that a falcon? Looks like we have company.
Petrus Christus, A Goldsmith in his Shop

This particular artwork perfectly embodies all the things that northern European painters were thought to do best.
Hugo van der Goes, Portinari Altarpiece

The Saints Nicholas and Victor Altarpiece stands as a rare example of a high altarpiece that remains in its original location since its installation in 1481.
Hermen Rode, Saints Nicholas and Victor Altarpiece

The portability and affordability of prints contributed to the exchange of information and ideas between cultures.
Printmaking in Europe, c. 1400−1800

Christine de Pizan was an author and intellectual and wasn't afraid to show the strength of women in the early 15th century.
Christine de Pizan and a City of ...

Christine de Pizan was the first professional author and an important female role model from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.
Portraits of Christine de Pizan in The ...

Introducing a lavish altarpiece with vibrant images. Exploring the narrative and visual threads that connect its featured stories.
Fit for a duke: Broederlam’s Crucifixion Altarpiece

Van Eyck’s enigmatic and iconic double portrait often prompts the question: is the female figure pregnant?
The question of pregnancy in Jan van ...

Mary cries and falls into John’s arms. Rogier’s precise observations accentuate the emotional impact of this scene.
Rogier van der Weyden, The Crucifixion, with ...

A center for trade in northern Europe, Flanders was fertile ground for painting, tapestry, goldwork, and sculpture.
Introduction to Fifteenth-century Flanders

Rich in art and ceremony, the short-lived Court of Burgundy was one of the most splendid in Europe.
Introduction to Burgundy in the Fifteenth Century

The calendar pages of this sumptuous prayer book depict seasonal life. Above it all, constellations help mark time.
Limbourg brothers, Très Riches Heures du Duc ...

The detailed scenes of this multi-layered painting drew worshipers in—and brought them closer to God.
Biblical Storytelling: Illustrating a Fifteenth-Century Netherlandish Altarpiece

Open this astonishing book and see how three brothers invented compositional devices to unite text and image.
Herman, Paul, and Jean de Limbourg, The ...

This foot-high theatre offers a drama in three acts. A golden thorn claims the starring role.