Art History of the Netherlands - Renaissance

Host - Ilona van Tuinen, Head of the Print Room

01/01/2022 - Rijksmuseum

The Renaissance was an explosion of innovation. During the iconoclastic outburst of the 16th century, people stormed the churches and destroyed works of art, shaking the Christian world to its foundations.

Art evolved, and artists became almost like superstars – like Lucas van Leyden, the great storyteller who became a celebrity throughout Europe.

The influence of Italy on art was strong, and there was a deep fascination for the human body. Some artists took it to extremes, showing every muscle in detail. With the emergence of printmaking – a completely new art form – all these new ideas could be spread far and wide, and they influenced the whole of Europe. This brought about an unprecedented exchange of knowledge and ideas.

See the Rijksstudio collection with a selection of the art that will be discussed in this episode. 

Worship of the Golden Calf Worship of the Golden Calf

Worship of the Golden Calf Lucas van Leyden (c. 1489/94–1533), Leiden, c. 1530, oil on panel

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De grote Ecce Homo De grote Ecce Homo

De grote Ecce Homo

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Landscape with an Episode from the Conquest of America Landscape with an Episode from the Conquest of America

Landscape with an Episode from the Conquest of America Jan Jansz Mostaert (c. 1474–1552/53), Haarlem, c. 1535, oil on panel

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Landscape with Bathsheba Landscape with Bathsheba

Landscape with Bathsheba Jan van Scorel (1495–1562), Utrecht, c. 1540–1545, oil on panel

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Hercules Pomarius Hercules Pomarius

Hercules Pomarius Willem Danielsz van Tetrode (c. 1525–before 1588), bronze, c. 1567–1580

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The Massacre of the Innocents The Massacre of the Innocents

The Massacre of the Innocents Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (1562–1638), oil on canvas, 1590

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In this episode

Middle Ages: what’s in this and the other episodes?

Host - Frits Scholten, Curator of Sculpture

Renaissance: what’s in this episode?

Host - Ilona van Tuinen, Head of the Print Room

First half of the 17th century: what’s in this episode?

Host - Taco Dibbits, General Director

Second half of the 17th century: what’s in this episode?

Host - Femke Diercks, Head of Decorative Arts

18th century: what’s in this episode?

Host - Reinier Baarsen, Curator of Furniture

19th century: what’s in this episode?

Host - Jenny Reynaerts, Curator of 18th- and 19th-century Paintings

20th century: what’s in this episode?

Host - Ludo van Halem, Curator of 20th-Century Art