Contextual Analysis Paper Assignment April 21, 2017
Samantha McGarry
AH111
One of the many well-known artworks of Rogier van der Wyden is St. Luke Drawing the Virgin that was produced in 1435 to 1440. The painting is a relatively large artwork measuring at 54 1/8th inches by 43 5/8th inches on a panel using oil and egg tempera stylistic features (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). The origin of the painting comes from the Northern Renaissances historical time period(Squadra). While the artwork is currently located in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, the original commission of the painting was for the Cathedral of St. Gudule in Brussels (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). St. Luke in the painting represents the patron saint of…show more content… There also is the essence of worldliness or holiness instilled in the painting (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). Painting the Virgin and child with St. Luke it is helping to represent the commitment of faith for all painters, represented by St. Luke, the patron saint of painters (Flemish Primitives). The subject matter being the worshiping of Mary and the virgin leaves the painting to be very spiritual. The aspect of holiness within the painting is a stylistic aspect that is typical of the Northern Renaissance (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). Within this painting, van der Weyden has placed many religious metaphors to display devotion to God. The staircase behind Mary acts as a throne to indicate Mary’s future role as the Queen of Heaven (Museum of Fine Arts). The enclosed garden is believed to act as disguised symbolism for Mary’s purity while the carvings of Adam and Eve on the staircase in contrast symbolizes Christ’s and Mary’s roles in the redeeming of mankind from the sins of Adam and Eve (Flemish Primitives). Many art historians believe the couple in the background is attribute to Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna (Flemish Primitives). The typical artistic qualities of the artworks also include the…show more content… The presence of hidden symbolism, or disguised symbolism, is evident in both artworks. Hidden symbolism is the form of representation that is present in the painting, yet we doe not initially think it is symbolism (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). Mary, who is being crowed in van Eyck’s painting, presents the viewer with her status in the heavenly world. A similar disguised symbol can be found on the throne she sits on in van der Weyden’s artwork indicating her status yet again. Along with the three pillars of architecture in the paintings, both Northern Renaissance artist’s take advantage of the detail in their painting (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). Both rich in color and detail, the viewer can see into the distance in the artworks; indicating the sense of endless power of God. The background seems infinite indicating the abilities of the higher power that is God (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). More similarities between both artworks come from the comparison of the old and new testaments. In the Madonna of Chancellor Rolin we have three scenes of the old testament above Mary and three scenes of the new testaments above Chancellor Rolin (Nygren lecture 1/27/17). This indicates to the viewer a sense of redemption for mankind (Flemish Primitives). In St. Luke Drawing the Virgin, we see a sense of redemption of mankind as the engraving of Adam and Eve on the throne indicate the old testament as Mary and Christ
