Eleanor Bird, a remarkably fluent and interesting lecturer, talked to members of the Wye Valley Art Society about the art of the Early Renaissance, that is to say the early 15th century. The artists of this period tend to be overshadowed by the more famous painters of the High Renaissance, such as Michelangelo, only a little time later.

Eleanore started by contrasting the Early Renaissance with even earlier church art, which was flat, unrealistic and decorative with lots of gold leaf. The Renaissance artists, inspired by new interests in science and classical learning, introduced perspective and realistic detail. The effect was to relate religious themes to the lives of the beholders, even introducing contemporary landscapes into the backgrounds.

In Italy the art was mostly in Florence; the patrons were ecclesiastical and the settings of the biblical scenes were influenced by classical architecture. Meanwhile in northern Europe, and especially in the Netherlands, where artists such as Jan van Eyck were already famous names, the settings of biblical scenes were often domestic. In the Netherlands patronage was from the merchant classes and even portraits of the patrons found their way into religious scenes. In Florence the early work was in relief sculptures where the realism and technical skill was remarkably advanced. This was followed by frescos in a similar vein. As time went on the influences between north and south went back and forth.

Eleanor’s thesis was that these remarkably fast-developing styles and techniques influenced the works of painters such as Lorenzo da Vinci and Botticelli. Without this splendid foundation the High Renaissance would not have been possible.

There will be something completely different at the November meeting. Jackie Cox, an artist living and working in the Forest of Dean, will demonstrate the use of scraper board. Jackie enjoys experimenting with many media and her main subjects are landscape and wildlife. The meeting will take place in The Shire Hall at 7.15pm on November 14th. There will be the usual small charge for non-members.