Rogier Van Der Weyden Crucifixion Analysis

Improved Essays
The Early Netherlandish period holds its place in time as one of the most important periods of art history. The progression of Western culture in this era is demonstrated by more relatable depictions of everyday life in art, along with more sophisticated techniques used to show the finer details of these events. Moreover, Early Netherlandish art is fascinating because of how ahead of the Italian Proto Renaissance it is in terms of refinement. Yet by later standards, it is considered to be simple because of the lack of linear perspective among other technical flaws. This era brought with it many new artists that are still appreciated to this day for their ingenuity; one of whom is Flemish painter, Rogier van der Weyden. His massive talent for …show more content…
It is clear from the Virgin Mother’s robe continuing onto Jesus’s panel that the two are connected, but scholars observe that, “the striking disparity between the painting's superb quality, colour and completeness viewed first hand and the prevailing scholarly conception of the panels as near-grisaille exteriors of altarpiece shutters, suggesting shop production, or an incomplete triptych”. This observation reveals that Rogier van der Weyden’s Crucifixion, will always remain mysterious as to whom the painting was commissioned for or its exact purpose. It is clear however, that the painting is meant to represent the relationship between Christ and the Virgin mother as they suffer and Saint John’s duty to comfort and bear witness to this …show more content…
Robert Campin, The Merode Altarpiece, Netherlands, Early Netherlandish (1400-1500), oil on wood, is a great piece to compare to The Crucifixion. Both are oil paintings, one a diptych and the other a triptych. Both use a common format and the most common type of paint for the time period. The two paintings also show great detail in the folds of cloth depicted in each scene. Enhanced detail is another common attribute of the era as artists began to learn how to use more complex techniques, along with their strong concern for showing individuals in art as they are in life. This goes hand in hand with the Early Netherlandish ideal of showing religious scenes as moments of everyday life so society could better relate. While both paintings were likely commissioned for religious use, neither appear to cast their stories in an overtly sacred manner. In Campin’s painting, the Annunciation is shown in a more casual setting with the Virgin Mary on the floor of her home reading a book while the Angel Gabriel appears to her. Likewise, Rogier van der Weyden’s painting shows the Virgin Mother and Saint John in ordinary robes, and Jesus’s bodily form is not exaggerated to make him appear superhuman. Each figure in this scene is extremely important to the Christian faith, and yet none of them are exaggerated in form or beauty. Each painting is also very similar in

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Crucified Christ (1503-04) is a classical example of Italian Renaissance art. The piece illustrates, extremely effectively the Italian desire to make everything in which they paint beautiful, not matter how horrific the subject may be. Christ in this depiction, although, dead does not appear to have progressed into rigor mortis of any degree, Christ also appears to look peace in death in the Raphael painting, unlike in the Grunewald where distress is on Christ’s face is blatant. The way in which Christ is bleeding in Raphael’s piece is depicted with a degree of beauty, the bleeding is not messy, any blood coming from Christ, is delicately dripping into chalices held by angels on either side of Christ. This is a complete contrast with that of Grunewald’s depiction of the crucifixion, where blood is freely flowing down both his arms and legs.…

    • 1334 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Annunciation Analysis

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Robert Campin’s painting of “The Annunciation” was made on the Merode Altarpiece in about 1425. Robert Campin was a Netherland painter that lived…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Van Rijn, or mostly known as Rembrandt, is a very well known artist still today who followed a Protestant faith. He used his faith to present the beliefs of Christianity on the ideas of repentance and forgiveness of our sins. In this oil painting, it shows the appearance of the prodigal son, who is shown repenting to his father, who appears in a red cape. The prodigal son is a parable that Jesus used to teach others on the importance of repenting our sins in order to have forgiveness. In the painting, the two figures stand in the light and their clothes can show the richness of the father and the ragged and poor clothing of the son.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Northern Baroque Art

    • 1558 Words
    • 7 Pages

    In the foreground, muscular men evocative of Michelangelo’s figures, struggle to lift the weight of Christ and the cross, their bodies thrusting out of the canvas and onto the viewer, thereby forcing the viewer to confront Christ’s crucifixion head on. Although Rubens's altarpiece illustrates the influence and desire of the Catholic Church to reaffirm faith in the church, as well as the influence of the Council of Trent (i.e. clear and accurate depiction of the crucifixion), Rubens's altarpiece illustrates the dynamism and emotion indicative of Baroque Art, as well as the religious quality of Flemish…

    • 1558 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Parmigianino Analysis

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The painting holds eight subjects. From left to right there stands a group of young spectators. An androgynous individual that stands in front of the group while raising a jar. It is said that he represents Saint John the baptist. These subject are gazing towards the center of the painting, where the virgin Mary is holding baby Christ on her lap.…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The medium used (oil) allowed the painter to make very realistic shades and colors. The figures and landscape in the painting also looked very fluid and real due to the use of the oil paint. The painting contains the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and his second cousin St. John the Baptist. The painting foreshadows the death of Christ on the cross. This point is displayed in the action of the painting where St. John is handing Jesus a small cross and Mary is looking upon it knowing what is to…

    • 946 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Both works depict Christ the moment after his crucifixion and being held by young angels. Christ, in both paintings, is the focal point of the entire scene. Christ is shown in a gentle manner rather than in gore, with the only indications of crucifixion being the…

    • 238 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This will be a description of “The Lamentation” by Giotto di Bondone (1305). One thing that stands out in this painting is the use of line. The artist’s use and qualities of the lines brings out the purpose and meaning of the painting, as well as what is actual and implied. The fresco painting depicts the body of Christ, Christ’s supporters, and the Angels in heaven after he had been crucified.…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    1425-1428, oil on oak) in this painting. Of course, mainly because Rogier van der Weyden was a student of Robert Campin. But in my opinion, there is this very similar spirituality that is laid down on both paintings, and it was something that Robert could teach Rogier, it was something they both had (and possibly what established their connection.) In “The Mérode Altarpiece” “the smallest details are meticulously worked to reflect reality on a two-dimensional plane. Illusionistic effects are enhanced by the technical innovation of overlaying translucent oil pigments on aqueous opaque pigments”.…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In early Renaissance art, artists had a tendency to use the same biblical stories or themes in their artwork. One in particular is the Virgin and Child Enthroned, it was painted by two different artists, thirty years apart from each other. In the year 1280 the first Virgin and Child Enthroned was painted by Cenni Di Pepi, also known as “Cimabue.” (M. Stokstad, 536) The second Virgin and Child Enthroned was painted by Giotto Di Bondone in 1305-1310.…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride by Jan Van Eyck (1434) is an example of Northern Renaissance attention to detail. The minute details are especially needed because of the symbolism shown in the piece. Not only are there many symbolic references, but the passion of christ is also displayed in intricate detail on a miniature scale. The Renaissance in the North and South both strived for a sense of realism, but in differing ways.…

    • 1657 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    All the figures pictured occupy space and have weight. As the piece moves backward toward where Christ is nailed to the cross, there is a definite recession of space. Van Eyck uses this receding background to denote depth, and it is only further enhanced by the intricately detailed, by tiny buildings in the back, and the atmospheric perspective employed on the even further receding landscape. The distraught bodies of the Mary’s engage the viewer’s interest in the foreground. As one looks at The Crucifixion’s contrasting piece, The Last Judgment, this occupation of natural space is seemingly lost.…

    • 1059 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this paper, one will describe the oil painting Madonna Enthroned. The central figure of this piece, as indicated by the title, is the enthroned Mary. Mary is grasping her son Jesus and is flanked on both sides by a number of angels. Below Mary and the angels is four elderly men, two of whom are divided by columns of the throne. Beginning with Mary, one immediately notices her halo as highlighted by numerous red, white, and darker red stylized jewels.…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    It was executed in a miniature format; the panels are just 56.5 cm (22.2 in) high by 19.7 cm (7.8 in) wide. The left-panel consists of three horizontal planes. The upper side shows Jesus had been crucified with two other crucified bodies by his side. In the mid-ground, Soldiers and peoples are gathering and the lower side details, Christ's followers grieving in the foreground. Behind the scene artist gave us a spectacular view of city of Jerusalem in the distance.…

    • 1466 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many artworks during the Renaissance were influenced by the preceding era, the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, depictions of biblical tales were quite common and this trend continued into the Renaissance. The Renaissance painting, The Crucifixion, portrays the biblical story of the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the damnation and salvation. This painting was done by Dreux Budé Master, possibly André d 'Ypres, before 1450. In The Crucifixion, Dreux Budé Master…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays