Patrick Bade
German Renaissance Painting
Summary
Despite Germany not existing yet, German-speaking countries had a German Renaissance of their own between 1490 and 1530 that paralleled the Italian High Renaissance. Patrick Bade discusses the work and influence of the painting that came out of this German Renaissance and its relationship, or lack thereof, to what was happening in Italy at the time.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
Well, they’re actually in, often people will assume a painting is a self-portrait, if the eyes meet those of the viewer with the kind of expression that someone has when they’re observing themselves in the mirror. But we don’t need to rely on that as far as Durer is concerned because he inscribes them and tells us that they’re self portraits.
I think it’s, there’s a difference in generation and I’m not sure that they were in, I mean, it is possible in the, I suppose, but I think it’s, I think it’s unlikely that they were in the right places at the right time and those would only be quite a short overlap.
I don’t think they’re commissions. I think he chose to do them. So that in itself is very interesting.