His writing usually incorporated a typically medieval didactic purpose .
It also has much in common with other artistic currents of northern Europe which were generally developing , such as the realism of Flemish painting , the historical candour of Barbour or the narrative scepticism of Chaucer .
Although his writing usually incorporated a typically medieval didactic purpose , it also has much in common with other artistic currents of northern Europe which were generally developing , such as the realism of Flemish painting , the historical candour of Barbour or the narrative scepticism of Chaucer .