Grunewald- Isenheim Altarpiece- 1510 - Northern Renaissance

• Comissioned by a hospital for patients to gain hope from Christ's suffering.
• Depicts Christ with morbid detail by elongating his arms and fingers, shows the intensity of his suffering in the use of harsh color in his purple lips, blood, wounds, and sweat. Quick brushstroke also used to convey agony.
  
• Lamb represents the blood of the lamb.
  
• Theme- Pain, illness, death, suffering, salvation, but hope and resurrection at the same time.
  

Durer- Four Apostles- 1526- Northern Renaissance

• Tells us about Durer and his support for Martin Luther by placing John and Paul forward and Peter and Mark as secondary figures. They are also all holding bibles which represents M.L. belief in the word of God being the authority rather than the Pope. Also the scripture at the bottom to beware of false prophets.
  
• Uses color and size of the figures to show prominence. Having them all hold bibles and crowding the figures shows unification of the figures.
  
• Illustrates that you can have religious painting even though it doesn't show Christ or his crucifiction.
  

Hans Holbein the Younger- The French Ambassadors - 1533- Northern Renaissance

• Paints all the interests of each ambassador, such as science, math, geography, and music. Shows both worlds of the Scholar and Landowner by the globes.
  
• Uses the animorphic image of a skull to show that death is enevitable and one must keep in mind their faith and not to over endulge in material things.
  
• A crucifix on the left, the hat, skull pendant, and broken string on the instrument all represnt death.
• The open book is of Luther's hymphs- which represents salvation and his support for Martin Luther.
  

Aertsen- Butcher's Stall- 1551- Northern Renaissance

• Overall theme- Gluttony Vs. Charity
  
• Foreground shows tables piled high with huge chunks of meat, sausage, poultry all represents the sin of gluttony.
  
• The true meaning is hidden in the background where Mary and Joseph are giving charity to the children- showing charitable characterists. Shows viewer that we should also be charitable
  
• The Fish represents Christ's last supper
• Scattered oyster shells represent over indulgence of sexuality
• Pretzels were invented by a Monk and given to children if they knew their prayers.
  

• Bosch- Garden of Earthly Delights- 1505- Northern Renaissance
• Northern Ren characteristic of close attention to detail.
• Influenced modern day works of Dali
• Gives no indication where he gets his iconography, he makes it up in his head.
• First Panel- Beginning- Christ w/ Adam and Eve
  
• Middle Panel- shows all lusts and the downfall of man- women, food, and the vanities of life.
  
• Strawberry represents lusts of man- first it's sweet but it leaves you feeling empty.
  
• Last panel- death and where the sins of man lead to
  
• Instruments, strawberries- what was once used for pleasure is now used for torture. Man crucified on the harp.