TRHS AP Euro

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Hans Holbein's The Ambassadors


Holbein is another Northern Renaissance artist whom we didn't cover in class. Look at this painting. How is this an example of Northern Renaissance art? How is this different from Italian Renaissance art?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Wednesday, August 30

posted by RJS at 11:36 AM

9 Comments:

  • This is an example of Northern Renaissance art because it focuses on individuals and does not appear to have any religious signifigance. Italian Renaissance art, though dramatically different from the art that came before it, still had alot of religious themes. By being both realistic and non-religious, this painting is an example of Northern Renaissance art.

    By Blogger laura, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 6:06:00 PM  

  • This painting is an example of Northern Renaissance art because of its generally dark tone. This is very different from the bright, full of life paintings from the Italian Renaissance. To demonstrate just how dark the tone of this painting is, besides the colors, look at that sideways object on the floor between the two people. It is actually a picture of a skull turned and flattened. If you look for it, it appears obvious. I'm not sure what the artist was trying to say by this, but its very interesting. No, I didn't research this painting or anything.

    By Blogger Unknown, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 7:29:00 PM  

  • Message for Victoria K.:

    Make sure you have your ID with you tomorrow. Mr. Dacko approached me this afternoon about you not having your ID when we got books. He specifically asked me to ask for your ID tomorrow - and to write you up if you don't have it. Silly, yes, but I have to do my job. Soooo...make sure you have your ID with you tomorrow!!

    By Blogger RJS, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 7:46:00 PM  

  • Holbein's painting demonstrates Northern Renaissance Art in this particular painting with his focus on the self as an idividual. It doesn't portray much importance of religion and portrays more realistic views. Another Characteristic of Northern Renaissance Art in this painting is that the two men are painted seeming well off with extravagant clothing though they may or may not have been wealthy. It differs from Italian Renaissance Art because the coloring is darker and the painting itself focuses more on the self being. Furthermore, Italian Renaissance focused more on communication of emotions and the natural world.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 8:11:00 PM  

  • First of all, Nate, thank you for pointing out what that skull was. I stared at it for five minutes at completely the wrong angle trying to figure out what in the world it was.
    Now, I did a bit (tiny bit) of research on Holbein (presumably the Younger.) Apparently he was a friend of Erasmus and Thomas More, familiar names by now. He was actually a court painter for Henry VIII (I wonder what happened to painters Henry didn't like? Did they get the chopping block or did he have a seperate punishment for each group of people- wives are decapitated, artists drowned in paint?)
    But that's not really the point. The Ambassadors shows its Northern Renaissance characteristics with an incredible emphasis on detail and realism(you know, with the teeny tiny exception of our friendly skull flattened across the floor. Maybe THAT'S what happened to unpopular artists.) Oh yes, unlike Italian Rennaissance art there were no religious symbols at all.
    The contrast between the two men was interesting- one appeared much richer than the other and held what looked like a telescope. What was Holbein saying here- using the other man as a sort of foil character to man the other man's wealth obvious?
    Another thought which occured to me- I'm not sure when Holbein painted this, but all the navigation instruments on the shelf seem to indicate the the New World was common knowledge. Was his title "The Amabassadors" perhaps an ironic nickname given to the conquistadores. Once again, the skull seems to suggest that they negogiate with death. I would not be at all surprised to find out that Holbein was touched by the Black Legend. (Followed by the Black Death- that had to be a bad way to go. Look it up if you didn't get that.)
    One final comment and I'm (most unusually) done. What was with the mandolin thingy on the shelf? It just looked somewhat out of place.

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 8:23:00 PM  

  • Loyal to the Northen Renaissance style, this piece is realistic, proportioned, and void of religious symbols. It also uses slightly darker colors and is focusing on these two individuals. I agree with Thomas that one seems to foil the other, but not only in wealth. If one were to look more closely at the shelf between them you would notice, or it seems this way to me, that on the left closer to the wealthier figure are the more exploration oriented items. On the right side closer to the poorer figure it seems like there are more slightly artistic elements, the mandolin type instrument, a book, something that resembles a pan pipe looking instrument. This could be symbolizing the effects of exploration, gaining wealth and such as opposed to playing mandolins. Since Northern Renaissance art was more focused toward the individual and the crown this could be showing support for the explorers. Italian renaissance art had much brighter colors and glorified people, while this painting is certainly glorifying one person, the other is just kind of standing there holding some gloves.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:32:00 PM  

  • I believe that the hidden skull in this painting shows the humanist's declining respect for authority very clearly once you realize the secret behind the otherwise flattering portrayal of the two ambassadors. The main differences between the styles of this painting and those prevalent in the Italian Renaissance paintings are the darkness of color found here, and how it drifts towards extravagant and unnatural poses that flaunt wealth, rather than more natural and expressive poses that the Italian paintings show.
    My ID is in my bag now. Silly Mr. Dacko indeed!

    By Blogger Victoria, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:34:00 PM  

  • Yeah, the one on the right looks greyer too...

    By Blogger Victoria, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:37:00 PM  

  • This painting is an example of Northern Renaissance art because it displays globes and maps to represent the exploration during this period, as well as musical instruments to represent the new found interest in the arts. Hans Holbein's piece is different from Italian Renaissance art in not only its darker mood compared to the livlier, more religious pieces but also its depiction of people. This piece shows posed figures whereas Italian Renaissance art diplays scenes of flying angels and people in motion basically. I looked closer and Nate and Thomas are right about the skull in the bottom of the painting. It is interesting why Holbein would put such a thing in this painting. Maybe he did not like these two men very much or the skull could just be a symobol to show how fragile life is.

    By Blogger taylor, at Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:40:00 PM  

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