Southern and High Northern Renaissance Term Paper

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In Italy, the Counter-Reformation had a great deal of effect on Renaissance works. As an example, Michelangelo's Cristo della Minerva in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, in Rome, fell victim to these actions. Just as the bonfires of the vanities saw artwork in various forms destroyed by fire, Michelangelo's sculpture was not safe from harm. The nakedness of Christ was seen as obscene, and as such, a girdle was added to the sculpture to cover his genitals ("Cristo della Minerva"). This is in contrast to Renaissance works in Northern Europe that although they experienced the troubles of religious division with the Reformation, Counter-Reformation and events such as the formation of the Church of England..

German Renaissance artist, Albrecht Durer, also is instrumental in illustrating the differences between the Southern and Northern Renaissances. Durer captures his views of the 'condition of man' eloquently in his print Melencolia I.

Many believe it to be a depiction of humanist writer Cornelius Agrippa's definition of melancholy, Melencholia Imaginativa, in which imagination prevails over reason ("Melencolia I"). Like Shakespeare, Durer demonstrates his belief that without the pursuit of reason mankind's accomplishments, such as mathematics as pictured in his print, are for naught.

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In the end, both the Southern and Northern Renaissances were brought on by economic boon and were affected by political and religious turmoil. Both regions sought to fulfill some higher human destiny, but when surrounded with conflict were filled with doubt about the true nature of humanity.

In Italy, the bonfire of the vanities and alterations made to Renaissance works demonstrates the power of the Church in this region. In Northern Europe, one sees artists expressing their doubt about humanity in a clear, straight-forward manner, in light of the strife around them......

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https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/southern-high-northern-renaissance-40444