The term International Style refers to an art mode of the 14th and 15th centuries that blends Italian and Northern Gothic elements. The International Style became the preferred mode of the rulers and aristocrats of Europe for its elegance. It is characterized by the use of brilliant colors; graceful, courtly figures; heavy gilding; and emphasis on patterned surfaces. The style developed when Simone Martini, a pupil of Duccio, moved to the papal court of Avignon (1335) and brought with him the Sienese vocabulary. As the papal court was frequented by foreigners, the style soon spread to other parts of Europe, hence the appellation "International Style." Among the exponents of this mode were the Limbourg brothers, Melchior Broederlam, Jean Malouel, Gentile da Fabriano, Luis Borrassá, and Jaime Huguet.
Historical dictionary of Renaissance art. Lilian H. Zirpolo. 2008.