"Every age projects its own image in its arts." During the Northern Renaissance in the years 1490-1550, Peter Brueghel the Elder and Rogier Van der Weyden were two influential artists in the Northern Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance artistic period is dominated by extreme detail, great symbolism, and highly realistic images.
The Harvesters, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1565, From the collection of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Bruegel was commissioned by Niclaes Jonghelink to paint several paintings depicting medieval labor scenes throughout the seasons demonstrating the relationship between man and nature over time.
The Tower of Babel, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Bruegel's first depiction of The Tower of Babel shows the changes & circumstances at different points in his life. The desolation of the tower in the later painting show his change of opinion.
The Tower of Babel, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, circa 1568, From the collection of: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
The second rendition of The Tower of Babel is considered to be Bruegel's last of the "great anthologies"
Bruegel commented on the futility of humans & between the drawings criticized commercialization
Big Fish Eat Little Fish, 1556, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1556, From the collection of: Albertina Museum
Brueghel created this pen drawing while a member of the Antwerp guild. Under the direction of Hieronymous Cock, Cock used his drawing as the basis for an engraving.
(Main View (composite) / Detail), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Influenced by the Schnitzaltar, the "stage" behind the figures is said to emphasize the drama of the scene and Weyden's remarkable skill display the movement and emotion through texture and lines.
Triptych: The Crucifixion, Rogier van der Weyden, 1443/1445, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
The Crucifixion was one of Weyden's later works and first of two crucifixion scenes in which holds a more "abstract" version of a background that isn't as "realistic" during the Northern Renaissance.
The Crucifixion, with the Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist Mourning, Rogier van der Weyden, Netherlandish (active Tournai and Brussels), 1399/1400 - 1464, c. 1460, From the collection of: Philadelphia Museum of Art
The second crucifixion scenes Weyden created, once again with an un-detailed amd slightly abstract background, very uncommon of the Renaissance, but painted at the end of his life.
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