Northern Renaissance : Flemish Art

Private devotional works Sacred figures in natural world (northern Europe) Oil painting Excruciating attention to detail Disguised symbolism – ordinary objects with sacred meaning

Robert Campin (Master of Flémalle) Merode Altarpiece (ca. 1425-1428) Annunciation in a Flemish home Bourgeois – Middle class family Illusion of reality – specific details Donors (patrons) outside Religious devotion –witnesses to the event Symbolic program Mousetrap – to snare the devil White lilies – purity of Mary Vase – Mary as vessel Wash basin – baptism, foot washing, Pilate washing his hands Candles – presence of God, consummation of wedding Windows – duality of Christ (Human / Divine)

Rogier van der Weyden Student of Campin Deposition (Descent from the Cross ) (ca.1435) Less symbolism more emotion Passionate sorrow Commissioned by crossbowmen’s guild of Louvain Emphasis on Christ parallels Eucharistic sacrifice on altar Staged in shallow box Forces attention on the scene Characters seem more real, tangible

Last Judgment Altarpiece (ca. 1444-1448)

Jan Van Eyck Ghent Altarpiece (1432) Polyptych – many paneled altarpiece Patrons – Burgomeister Jodocus Vyd Grisaille —painting in shades of grey Closed during the period of Lent Annunciation on outside (promise of salvation) Resurrection / Adam & Eve / Mary-God-John

Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride (1434) Italian merchant Textiles, silks, tapestries Legal document – (proof of marriage?) Witnessed Covered heads Raised hand for oath Demonstration of wealth / status Furs, rugs, oranges Vivid details Candle – God’s presence Shoes – holy ground Dog – fidelity Broom – wifely duties St. Margaret – safety in childbirth No, she’s not pregnant Mirror – eye of God Images from life of Christ around mirror Worldly side vs. domestic side

But questions remain . . .

The Virgin and Chancellor Rolin (Virgin of Autun) (ca. 1435) Nicholas Rolin, chancellor (governor) of Flanders 1421-1451 Donation to home church in Autun Occasion of Rolin’s son Jean becoming bishop of Autun Mystical visitation while Rolin prays Defined separation between secular / sacred worlds Foreground line of tiles Background city of churches / countryside of workers Drunkenness of Noah / Melchizedek and Abraham Rolin family wealthy wine growers Is background his family vineyard? Text on Mary’s hem Wisdom glorified by creation Flowers symbols of Mary

Dirk Bouts Last Supper from Altarpiece of the Holy Sacrament (1464-1468) Confraternity patrons 1st use of linear perspective in Northern Europe 1st Flemish work on this subject Lack of disguised symbolism – message is direct

Hugo van der Goes Portinari Altarpiece (ca. 1476) Tommaso Portinari Medici representative in Bruges Commissioned work to show his success Sent to Florence Impressed but confused Italians Combination of emotion with symbolism Summation of van Eyck and Campin Synoptic Narrative – multiple episodes w/in single image Drawn from the Revelation of Brigitte of Sweden Pillar – flagellation of Christ Cow – Gentiles Donkey – Jews Wheat – Bethlehem & bread (Eucharist) Flowers – sorrows of Mary

Hieronymus Bosch ??? (insanity? fringe? doctrine?) Flemish patrons / Spanish patrons Hell was very real Presence of the devil Focus on sin in this world Witchcraft Papal Bull 1484 Worst heresy Wave of hysteria Witch-hunting

The Garden of Earthly Delights (1505-1510) Triptych – Garden of Eden, Present World, Hell Morality – exposing sins Hideous, outrageous, debased Sermon on sin and judgment Beauty of the altarpiece is a trap Satirizing society All is not right in Eden – anticipation of sin entering the world Owls – evil omen Perverted wisdom – sees in the dark Ruins of Sodom in background of Hell Punished for their sins by their sins