A recent arrival to the Hood Museum's permanent collection has inspired a new exhibit, "Northern European Artists in Italy, 1550-1800," located in the Albright Gallery until July 17.
Flemish artist Denys Calvaert's "The Holy Family with John the Baptist" is the center of attention in this exhibit, which showcases art by northern European artists inspired by Italian artistic ideals.
According to Richard Rand, the curator of the exhibit, the museum acquired the painting at an auction at Sotheby's in New York in January. He explained, "It was the kind of painting that we had been looking to acquire for the museum for several years, because the collection didn't have a Mannerist painting. In that sense, it's an important addition to the collection." It was purchased with the help of the Mrs. Harvey P. Hood '18 Fund.
The painting, which Calvaert worked on from 1580 to 1585, is an important example of Mannerism, which was the most widespread artistic style in the 16th century. This style broke off from the ideals of the High Renaissance and its main goals were the representation of elegance and spiritual feeling.
Calvaert attains this refinement with a vibrant color scheme, including rich shades of pink and blue and with a rich texture. Representations of the Holy Family were popular in 16th and 17th century painting.
Calvaert was raised in Antwerp, Belgium and travelled to Italy in the 1560s to improve his skills. He set up shop in Bologna and worked with local artists, incorporating the Bolognese Mannerist style into his works. He also spent many years in Rome painting the Vatican, where he was influenced by the works of Michelangelo and Raphael. In 1575, he returned to Bologna and founded an art studio.
Unlike Calvaert, northern European artists rarely remained in Italy, but brought the knowledge they acquired there back to their native countries. Albrecht Durer initiated the "grand tour" of Italy in the late 15th century. By the 1700s it was deemed essential for professional artists, as well as amateurs, to journey to the art capitals of Italy-- Florence, Venice and Rome -- to increase their knowledge of other artistic ideals, or simply to improve their art collections.
Three facets of Italian culture drew nothern European artists to immerse themselves in a new country and to study its artistic heritage: the masterpieces of the Renaissance and Baroque periods by such artists as Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian; works from antiquity, exemplified by the abundance of sculpture and architecture in ancient Rome; and the Italian landscape itself.
Whereas Calvaert's style assimilated Italian styles into his work, almost completely replacing northern European influences, many other artists combined Italian influences with their native artistic practices. Some of these pieces complement the Hood's new acquisition.
Rand will give a gallery talk on the exhibition on June 19 at 2 p.m. in the Albright Gallery in the Hood Museum.
