| Seven Sacraments Altarpiece | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Rogier van der Weyden |
| Year | 1445-1450 |
| Medium | oil on panel |
| Dimensions | 200 cm × 223 cm (79 in × 88 in) |
| Location | Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp |
The Seven Sacraments Altarpiece is a fixed-wing triptych by the Early Netherlandish artist Rogier van der Weyden and his workshop. It was painted from 1445 to 1450, probably for a church in Poligny (Max J. Friedländer claimed that it was commissioned by the Bishop Jean Chevrot),[1] (this original text needs to be edited) and is now in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp. It depicts the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. On the left panel are baptism, confirmation and confession and on the right hand panel the ordination of a priest, marriage and the last rites.
Subject Matter
editThe central panel (possibly the only autograph part of the work) is dominated by a crucifixion in the foreground, with the sacrament of the Eucharist in the background. Angels hover over each sacrament with scrolls, with clothes colour-matched to the sacraments, from white for baptism to black for the last rites. The side panels also depict the altarpiece's commissioners, along with some portrait heads only added shortly before the work was completed. Two coats of arms (probably that of the commissioners) (left: "sable" chevron on "or" field; right: "argent" tower on "sable" field) are painted in the spandrels of the painting's inner frame. (I plan to move around more of this info into my own writing once I get finished with this section)
This altarpiece features three distinct panels that all work together to tell about the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. The sacraments are as followed: baptism, first communion, confession, eucharist, ordination, marriage, and anointing[2]. The left side panel is called Baptism, Confirmation, and Confession. Baptism is shown in the lower left corner with the priest helping perform the baptism to the small baby being held by the man. The first communion is in the middle of the left panel with a child on this knees in a praying position in front of a bishop, ready to be accepted into the church. Confession is shown on the right side of the left panel with 2 people on their knees praying to a nun. The middle panel is all about the eucharist titled Christ on the Cross and Eucharist. At the very back of the middle panel, a priest is seen holding up a waffer into the air while at the altar. This is the physial action the priest is taking, while the image in the center of the panel is the metaphorical action. The right panel is called The Ordinatio, Marriage, and Extreme Unction. The right panel on the left side shows a priest being ordained by the two men shown. In the middle of the panel is marriage depicted by a priest joining the hands of a man and a women. In the bottom right of the panel is a sickly man in bed with people around him tyring to heal him, this represents anointing.
Each sacrament on the side panels has an angel above the sacrament action and each sacrament action has a latin phrase above it as well. The writing on the Baptism, Confirmation, and Confession panel from left to right is Oes in aqu pneuate baptizati/ in morte chri ve sut renati/ ad roa vi co.[3] The writing on the Christ on the Cross and Eucharist panel on the altarpiece is Hic pais manu sti sps forat i vigie/ Igne passiois e decoct in cruce/ Abro i li sacmet.[3] The writing on the The Ordinatio, Marriage, and Extreme Unction panel from right to left is Du sum potifex lesus i sta itavt/ tuc sacmentu ordis vere stauravit/ ad heb ix co.[3] This writing above the sacraments is written on a banderole.[3] These latin phrases are of ecclesiastical writings which connect each sacrament to the death of Christ.[3]
Iconography
editFigures & Patronage
editThere has been no documentation of the commission record, but scholars believe the altarpiece to be commissioned by Jean Chevrot.[3] Chevrot was a French bishop to the city of Doornik, also called Tournai. Chevrot can be seen as the bishop in the confirmation ceremony.
In the top of the arch in each panel, two symbols can be found. The symbol on the left is represented as the coat of arms of the Chevrot family.[3] The second coat of arms on the right side of the arches has been interpreted as two different symbols. The first explanation is that it is the coat of arms for Doornik.[3] This would align with the idea that this altarpiece was designed to be put in Chevrot's private chapel in Doornik.[4] The second explanation is that the coat of arms is for the Couraults of Poligny.[4] This would mean that the altarpiece was meant for the Saint Anthony chapel in the church of Saint Hippolytus.[4] This church was founded in Poligny in 1445 by Chevrot and where he was born.[4]
History
editCollaboration
editVan der Weyden had his own workshop and many assistants to help with this altarpiece.[3]
Underdrawing
editDating
editProvenance
editIn 1681, this altarpiece was owned by Jean Perrault who was in Paris.[4] In 1826, it was aquired by the Chevalier Florent van Ertborn from the heirs of Perad, the last Premier President of the Parlement de Bourgogne in Dijon.[4] In 1841 the art collection of Van Ertborn that was then bequeathed to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp where it is still at today.[4]
Restoration
editThe altarpiece did go through a restoration process between 2006-2009 which was sponsored by the foundation Fonds Baillet Latour and SD Worx.[3] The project was headed by Dr. Griet Steyaert
References
edit- ^ Friedländer, Max J. From Van Eyck to Bruegel. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1981 (reprint), 23.
- ^ Petruzzello, M.. "The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church." Encyclopedia Britannica, February 6, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/list/the-seven-sacraments-of-the-roman-catholic-church.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j “The Seven Sacraments.” Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen. https://kmska.be/en/masterpiece/seven-sacraments.
- ^ a b c d e f g Asperen de Boer, J.R.J. van, J. Dijkstra, R. van Schoute, C.M.A. Dalderup, and J.P. Filedt Kok. “UNDERDRAWING IN PAINTINGS OF THE ROGIER VAN DER WEYDEN AND MASTER OF FLÉMALLE GROUPS.” Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek (NKJ) / Netherlands Yearbook for History of Art 41 (1990): 3–328. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43888587.
Other Resources
edit- Felix Thürlemann: Rogier van der Weyden: Leben und Werk, C.H. Beck Wissen 2006, ISBN 3-406-53592-5. (in German)
- Flügelaltäre : Caterina Limentani Virdis, Mari Pietrogiovanna, München, Hirmer, 2002, ISBN 3-7774-9520-4. (in German)
