Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 11, 2014

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Portrait of a Lady (van der Weyden, c.1460)

Early Netherlandish painting refers to the work of artists active in the Burgundian Netherlands during the 15th- and 16th-century Northern Renaissance. Their output follows the International Gothic style and begins approximately with Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck in the early 1420s, and lasts at least until the death of Gerard David in 1523. It represents the culmination of the northern European medieval artistic heritage. Early Netherlandish painting occurred during the height of Burgundian influence in Europe, when the Low Countries were renowned for high end crafts and luxury goods. The major figures include Campin, van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Dieric Bouts, Petrus Christus, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes and Hieronymus Bosch. They made significant advances in natural representation and illusionism, and typically incorporate complex iconography. Their subjects were usually religious scenes or small portraits (Portrait of a Lady by van der Weyden pictured). The painted works are generally oil on panel, and may be single works or more complex altarpieces. The era is further noted for its sculpture, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass and carved retables. (Full article...)

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