Natura naturata versus natura naturans: Different ways of pursuing naturalism in the north and the south
Throughout the paper, the question of how and to what extent early Netherlandish painting influenced Leonardo’s paintings of the High Renaissance has been discussed. By showing how Early Netherlandish artists may have influenced their Italian successors, we could set the foundation through comparison. Then, by discussing the characteristic of chiaroscuro in each period, we could see the direction of development in this technique in portraiture. Finally, by analyzing Leonardo da Vinci’s advanced skill, we could appreciate its delicacy and the harmony of symbolism and chiaroscuro. The conclusion will look at the general difference between the attitudes to nature in the two regions.
Art …show more content…
His process of composition was holistic rather than based on a combination of techniques. To compete with Nature he applied natural principles and gave logical sense to his creations. His study of color-modelling, his contrast of foreground and background, and his elimination of the symbolic window were subtle but significant details that reveal his desire to be a “creator of Nature”.
In short, an accumulation of knowledge over time gave rise to the development and maturation of techniques. The Flemish art of portraiture in the Early Renaissance influenced that in Italy in the High Renaissance, in which Leonardo da Vinci reached a zenith. The Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani is a transitional work by Leonardo, which shows both the influence of earlier
artists and his innovation. His intense and mature use of chiaroscuro as well as symbolism is historically significant both in his own time and to future