Self-portrait in Italian and Northern Renaissance: Comparison Experience
The article deals with a comparative characteristics of self-portrait in Italian and Northern Renaissance art. The author explores mental background of the origin and development of self-portrait in Western European Renaissance art. Humanistic ideas had decisive influence in Italy, where an artist had been considered almost equal to the God. Aspiration for the earthly fame was very important. In High and Late Renaissance self-portrait becomes more intimate and turns to mean of self-cognition. New art of Northern Europe saved closer relations to the thinking of the Middle Ages. Renaissance in the Northern countries took place mainly within the religious image of the world, so anthropocentrism had never been the main principle of life. Not the man but his relations to God and world became the chief theme of art. This can be seen in the self-portraits of artists of two chief Northern schools — Netherlandish and German.