National Gallery: Netherlandish devotional works
THE TELEGRAPH
March 12, 2011
ENGLAND--In the cellars of the moderately hideous Crowne Plaza hotel in Bruges are remains from the cathedral of St Donatian, destroyed by the French after the Revolution. Two panels were painted for St Donatian's by Gerard David, and are safely preserved at the National Gallery in London, which is currently showing an exhibition called Jan Gossaert's Renaissance. Art critics often write about the way that devotional paintings of the time showed off the status of the men and women who paid to have them made. It is certainly impressive to learn that a pleasant painting at the National Gallery by Juan de Flandes of the Virgin Mary (in blue) sitting at the foot of a canopied bed (in red) was one of 47 pictures in a costly series commissioned by Queen Isabella of Castile. But few eyes other than hers must have seen them, for they were meant to aid her private devotion in her closet. These Netherlandish devotional works reminded me of a scene in the acclaimed film Of Gods and Men, in which an aged monk, expecting soon to be murdered, kisses a poster depicting Jesus on his way to be crucified. This is art, but art in the service of prayer. [link]
March 12, 2011
ENGLAND--In the cellars of the moderately hideous Crowne Plaza hotel in Bruges are remains from the cathedral of St Donatian, destroyed by the French after the Revolution. Two panels were painted for St Donatian's by Gerard David, and are safely preserved at the National Gallery in London, which is currently showing an exhibition called Jan Gossaert's Renaissance. Art critics often write about the way that devotional paintings of the time showed off the status of the men and women who paid to have them made. It is certainly impressive to learn that a pleasant painting at the National Gallery by Juan de Flandes of the Virgin Mary (in blue) sitting at the foot of a canopied bed (in red) was one of 47 pictures in a costly series commissioned by Queen Isabella of Castile. But few eyes other than hers must have seen them, for they were meant to aid her private devotion in her closet. These Netherlandish devotional works reminded me of a scene in the acclaimed film Of Gods and Men, in which an aged monk, expecting soon to be murdered, kisses a poster depicting Jesus on his way to be crucified. This is art, but art in the service of prayer. [link]
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