Great Northern European Artists

As the Renaissance was developing in Italy, the next subjects painted were of the people's culture; their proverbs and sayings, and celebrations of the events of the biblical year; morality then was a common theme.

The tremendous upheavals in the Netherlands, of the Reformation, of wars, invasions and the Inquisition, were the backdrop to the lives of many and a number of artists turned to portraiture as a safe subject.

Travels of some influenced their works, which we shall see, and a few became court artists or artist-diplomats.

Others managed to produce work which showed none of the hazards of their lives, with domestic interiors of quietness.

Altogether, the eight make for variety in their individuality and a remarkable history of two centuries of outstanding art.

Maps are included which show the changing geographic boundaries through the two century period, which affected the paintings which were produced.