Dürer holds the distinction of being the first truly international Northern Renaissance artist. He began his career as an apprentice to his father, a goldsmith, and demonstrated enough skill to be admitted to the painter’s guild at age 18. Dürer traveled to both Italy and the Netherlands in the 1490s and was exposed to the new Renaissance styles being practiced there. He was particularly impressed with the works of Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini in Italy and the early oil paintings of Jan van Eyck in the Netherlands. Dürer combined these influences with his own unique talents to create a style that was widely imitated throughout Europe.
Dürer’s most famous works include his self-portraits, which are remarkable for their psychological depth and realism; his religious paintings and prints, such as the Apocalypse and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; and his secular works, such as the engraving Melancholia I and the woodcut series The Life of the Virgin.
2. Lucas Cranach the Elder (Kronach, 1472–1553)
Cranach was another successful German Renaissance artist who played a leading role in the spread of the new art style. Like Dürer, he was the son of a craftsman and began his career as a painter of religious images. In 1505 he moved to Wittenberg, where he became the court painter to the Electors of Saxony. Cranach was a prolific artist and produced a wide variety of works, including altarpieces, portraits, mythological scenes, and prints. He also designed tapestries, furniture, and other decorative arts.
Cranach’s style is characterized by its bright colors and decorative details. He was particularly skilled at depicting women, and his portraits of them are some of the most iconic images of the Northern Renaissance.
3. Matthias Grünewald (Würzburg, c. 1475–1528)
Grünewald is considered one of the greatest German Renaissance painters, although he is not as well-known as Dürer and Cranach. He worked primarily in the city of Colmar in Alsace, which is now part of France. Grünewald’s style is characterized by its expressive, emotional qualities and its use of dramatic lighting effects. His most famous work is the Isenheim Altarpiece, a large polyptych that is considered one of the masterpieces of German art.
4. Hans Holbein the Younger (Augsburg, 1497–1543)
Holbein was a child prodigy who began painting at the age of 12. He traveled to Italy in the early 1510s and studied the works of the Italian Renaissance masters. After returning to Germany, he worked for a variety of patrons, including the Elector of Saxony and the King of England. Holbein is considered one of the greatest portraitists of all time, and his works are characterized by their detail, accuracy, and psychological insight.
5. Robert Campin (Tournai, c. 1375–1444)
Campin was a Flemish painter who is considered to be one of the founders of Early Netherlandish painting. He worked in the city of Tournai, which was a major center of artistic production in the 15th century. Campin’s style is characterized by its realism and its attention to detail. He was particularly skilled at depicting fabrics and textures. His most famous work is the Mérode Altarpiece, a triptych that is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
6. Jan van Eyck (Maaseik, c. 1390–1441)
Van Eyck is considered to be one of the most important painters of the Early Netherlandish school. He worked primarily in the city of Bruges, which was another major center of artistic production in the 15th century. Van Eyck is best known for his oil paintings, which are characterized by their brilliant colors, precise details, and illusionistic effects. His most famous work is the Arnolfini Portrait, a double portrait that is now in the National Gallery in London.
7. Rogier van der Weyden (Tournai, c. 1400–1464)
Van der Weyden was a Flemish painter who was a student of Campin. He worked in a variety of cities, including Tournai, Brussels, and Leuven. Van der Weyden’s style is characterized by its expressiveness and its attention to human anatomy. He was particularly skilled at depicting emotion in his figures. His most famous work is the Descent from the Cross, a triptych that is now in the Prado Museum in Madrid.
