Flemish Primitives | Techniques: Realism and Naturalism

The Flemish primitives are known for Realism, Naturalism and Illusionism in their art.

The refined technique of oil painting made it possible to represent various things such as textile, metal and precious stones in great detail. The rendering of light and shadow was also refined by the Flemish primitives. This manner of painting raises the suggestion that the artists imitated reality in high detail, but nothing is further from the truth. The compositions are assembled and orchestrated and the portraits are often stylised and a bit idealised. This nevertheless lead to astonishing art.

Text: Anne van Oosterwijk

Thematic collection presentation | Techniques: Realism and naturalism

Portrait of Margareta van Eyck

1439 Jan van Eyck

Musea Brugge

Madonna with Canon Joris van der Paele

1436 Jan van Eyck

Musea Brugge

Saint Luke drawing the Madonna

circa 1500 anoniem

Rogier van der Weyden

Musea Brugge

The Seven Sacraments

(1440-1445) Rogier van der Weyden

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Bernardo Bembo, Statesman and Ambassador of Venice

c. 1474 Hans Memling

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Moreel Triptych

1484 Hans Memling

Musea Brugge

Baptism of Christ

circa 1502 - circa 1508 Gerard David

Musea Brugge

Judgement of Cambyses

1498 Gerard David

Musea Brugge

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