An exhibition of the Northern Renaissance has opened in Buckingham Palace

The influence of the Lutheran Reformation on the work of artists in Northern Europe can be seen in the exhibition of paintings from the personal collection of Queen Elizabeth II of England that opens in Buckingham Palace.

An exhibition entitled “Northern Renaissance: from Dürer to Holbein” (El Renacimiento nórdico: de Durero a Holbein) will present several hundred works by artists of this era, which differ significantly in style from the works of their Italian contemporaries. “The Nordic countries have not experienced any significant reforms in the field of painting. Portraits and religious subjects remained the most popular motifs in the works of artists, ”says one of the curators of the exhibition, Kate Heard.

A special place at the exhibition is occupied by 27 paintings and drawings by the German artist Hans Holbein el Joven, who was the main painter at the court of King Henry VIII and portrayed many figures of that time. “For some time the artist traveled across Europe in search of orders and to accumulate creative experience. Holbein spent a lot of time in Italy, ”says Hurd. Sir Henry Guildford, a close friend of the king, was one of the first to order a portrait to the German master, after which the painter became famous at court.

The exhibition features many portraits of the king and queen of England of that time, ordinary people, traders, all who could afford to pay the artist. Here you can see a tiny portrait of Henry Fitzroy, Richmond Somerset in pajamas by Lucas Horenbout, summarizing the private life of the era in miniature works of art.

The exposition also presents fifteen illustrations by Albrecht Dürer to one of the editions of the Apocalypse (1498), including an image of the scene of the arrival of four horsemen. Religious and mythical subjects are also present in the paintings of Lucas Cranach the Elder (Lucas Cranach el Mayor), Apollo and Diana (Apolo y Diana, 1526) and The Court of Paris (El juicio de Paris, 1530-35). In addition, visitors will find numerous drawings, prints, books of those years. The exhibition will run until April 14, 2013.

Anna Sidorova