Comparison between Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico Essay -- essays rese

The rebirth in Western Europe brought a transition to the arts. No longer was the church the only accredited patron for the arts. Instead, a wealthy middle class arose as patrons and were able to purchase artists works. Although many pieces still had religious themes, the styles, freedom of creativity, and less reserved pieces were created. The Renaissance was not only confined to Italy, although it is often mistaken as the birthplace of the movement. altogether over Western Europe artwork flourished. Artists from the north came to Italy to study the classical arts and the renowned Italian Renaissance artists. Many of the same themes and subject matters were pictured throughout Western Europe. One such(prenominal) subject matter, the declaration, was portrayed by Jan van Eyck, a Flemish panel painter, as well as, Fra Angelico, an Italian paint painter. In short, the Annunciation occurred when God sends the angel, Gabriel to deliver the message to Mary that she will give birth to his only son. Although both artists had the same understanding of the biblical account, their styles varied to agree with the concerns and interests of the people of the time as well as where they lived. They were able to establish their individuality through their artwork, even with the same subject matter. The Annunciation by Jan van Eyck is a perfect reflection of Northern Renaissance panel painting while Annunciation by Fra Angelico is the essence of Italian Renaissance fresco painting.The compositions that each piece displays is different and prestige in its own right. Flemish panel painters were largely influential and created extraordinary developments in composition. The artwork tends to be very evented and filled with symbolic meanings from surrounding objects or even coloring. Jan van Eyck was especially credited for paying exceptional attention to detail that creates such a realistic form, the figures seem lifelike. Much of this realistic appearance is due to the mediu m that was widely used in the North. The use of oil paints and techniques, such as finer detail with smaller brush strokes and layering of oil paints to create a glaze, were used and developed giving the Northern art distinct characteristics and composition. Italian painters created frescos by applying pigments to wet plaster. The result is a dull, flatter color and they were unable to achieve intricate detail. The com... ...ic meanings that still are puzzling art historians today. Some of the pick up symbols that Stokstad points out in the text is the dove, representing the Holy Spirit the white lilies as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. She also points out, two rather unknown symbols to the sacrilegious, the run into of the Annunciation in signs of the zodiac on the floor, as well as the lone stained glass window that is symbolizing God rising above the tercet windows that are placed in the background behind Mary. These three windows represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Both Jan van Eyck and Fra Angelico were revered artists for the advances in art that they created and displayed for the arena to see. Their renditions of the Annunciation were both very different, however unique and perfect display of the typical styles used during the Renaissance. Jan van Eycks panel painting Annunciation held all the characteristics of the Northern Renaissance with its overwhelming symbolism and detail. Fra Angelicos fresco Annunciation grasped the key elements used in the Italian Renaissance with usage of stance as well as displaying the interest and knowledge of the classical arts.