What is characteristic of the Northern Renaissance but not Italian Renaissance?

Oil paintings were more popular in the Northern Renaissance due to the availability of linseed oil, which improved the drying time and luminosity of the paint. These paintings were characterized by great technical detail, realism, and symbolic imagery. By contrast, Italian Renaissance art heavily favored fresco murals, frescoes, tempera, and mixed techniques in their art production, which involved different styles and materials for painting on wood, canvas, and walls.