Early Netherlandish painting is the body of work by artists active in the Burgundian and Habsburg Netherlands during the 15th- and 16th-century Northern Renaissance period, once known as the Flemish Primitives. The period begins approximately with Robert Campin and Jan van Eyck in the s and lasts at least until the death of Gerard David in , [ 2 ] although many scholars extend it to the beginning of the Dutch Revolt in or — Max J.
Early Netherlandish painting coincides with the Early and High Italian Renaissance , but the early period until about is seen as an independent artistic evolution, separate from the Renaissance humanism that characterised developments in Italy. Beginning in the s, as increasing numbers of Netherlandish and other Northern painters traveled to Italy, Renaissance ideals and painting styles were incorporated into northern painting.
As a result, Early Netherlandish painters are often categorised as belonging to both the Northern Renaissance and the Late or International Gothic. These artists made significant advances in natural representation and illusionism , and their work typically features complex iconography. Their subjects are usually religious scenes or small portraits, with narrative painting or mythological subjects being relatively rare. Landscape is often richly described but relegated as a background detail before the early 16th century.
The painted works are generally oil on panel, either as single works or more complex portable or fixed altarpieces in the form of diptychs , triptychs or polyptychs. The period is also noted for its sculpture, tapestries , illuminated manuscripts , stained glass and carved retables. The first generations of artists were active during the height of Burgundian influence in Europe, when the Low Countries became the political and economic centre of Northern Europe, noted for its crafts and luxury goods.
Assisted by the workshop system, panels and a variety of crafts were sold to foreign princes or merchants through private engagement or market stalls.
