Northern School

'Northern School' refers to a collective designation used by auction houses to attribute paintings and works of art produced by anonymous or unidentified artists working in the northern European tradition, primarily encompassing regions such as the Netherlands, Flanders, Germany, and Scandinavia. These works typically date from the 15th through 18th centuries and reflect the distinct aesthetic sensibilities of northern European painting, including meticulous attention to detail, realism, and rich use of oil paint. The term is commonly applied when a work cannot be attributed to a specific named artist but displays stylistic characteristics consistent with northern European workshops or regional schools.