The Mrode Altarpiece and Robert Campin
The Mrode Altarpiece is a stunning piece of Northern Renaissance painting that was created by the esteemed Robert Campin. But, what makes this masterpiece so significant, and who is the artist behind it?
In this article, we will delve into the details of the Mrode Altarpiece, its symbolism, artistic techniques and the historical context surrounding it. We will also take a closer look at the artist, Robert Campin, and his early Netherlandish era, new realism style.
Mrode Altarpiece Description and Significance
The Mrode Altarpiece is an exceptional example of Northern Renaissance painting that depicts the life of Christ in magnificent detail. This polyptych altarpiece consists of six panels, the central panel depicting the Annunciation, the two lateral wings portray St. Joseph and the donors family.
On the far left panel, we see a portrait of the donor’s family; Jan Engelbrecht, his wife, Maria, and their two sons, William and Jan. In the central panel, the angel Gabriel appears to the Virgin Mary with a white lily, a symbol of purity.
The far-right panel depicts St. Joseph, the earthly father of Christ, and there are also two additional panels that close the structure, which include the Annunciation scene in grisaille on one side and St. Veronica on the other. The Mrode Altarpiece is significant as it encapsulates the essence of the Northern Renaissance painting style.
It represents the new storytelling approach of the period that focused on realism rather than idealized representations of the divine. Additionally, it features a vast range of symbolism, which was typical of the time, and exemplifies the compositional rigor and material refinement characteristic of the Northern Renaissance.
Robert Campin – Artist Background
Robert Campin is known as one of the founders of the Early Netherlandish painting style. He was also referred to as the Master of Flmalle after a town in Belgium where he was believed to have trained.
Little is known about his early life, but he is believed to have been born in Valenciennes around 1375. Campin established a successful workshop in Tournai, where he trained notable artists such as Rogier van der Weyden, who went on to become a celebrated painter in his own right.
Campin’s style of painting, referred to as the New Realism, was characterised by a significant emphasis on the use of light, making objects appear more naturalistic. His attention to detail and use of earthly colours, particularly browns and greens, are evident in the Mrode Altarpiece.
He was also known for using sparsely patterned cloth, as seen on the clothing of the figures in the altarpiece.
Contextual Analysis of the Mrode Altarpiece
Early Netherlandish art was prominent during the 14th and 15th centuries in Northern Europe. This art form was characterised by its use of colour and light, which portrayed the appearance of divine figures and objects in more naturalistic ways.
The Mrode Altarpiece is an exceptional example of this style but was created towards the end of the Gothic period, which is seen in some of the altarpiece’s details. Regarding the donors of the Mrode Altarpiece, records indicate that it was commissioned by the Engelbrecht clan, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Tournai.
The triptych was commissioned to commemorate the wedding of two of Jan Engelbrecht’s family members, Margarete Scrynmaker and Peter Ingelbrecht. This altarpiece reflects the marriage symbolism of Christine de Pisan, a well-known writer and commentator from the time.
In conclusion, the Mrode Altarpiece and Robert Campin are significant contributions to art history. The Mrode Altarpiece’s combination of religious symbolism and secular themes makes it an exceptional example of the Northern Renaissance style.
On the other hand, Robert Campin’s innovative and realistic style helped to define the Early Netherlandish era, and his unique creative approach had a significant impact on Renaissance painting.
References
Harbison, C. (1991).
The art of the northern Renaissance. London: Laurence King.
Kren, T. (2011).
Robert Campin. Retrieved from https://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/m/master/campin/
Holly Hayes.
(2004). The Mrode Altarpiece.
Retrieved from https://smarthistory.org/the-mrode-altarpiece/
Artist Attribution and Composition Analysis
There has been some debate about the attribution of the Mrode Altarpiece over the years. Although it’s widely believed to have been created in the workshop of Robert Campin, a few art historians have suggested that it may have been the work of another artist, Jacques Daret, or the renowned Rogier van der Weyden, who was trained in Campin’s workshop.
Regardless of who painted the Mrode Altarpiece, it remains a masterpiece of the period and a remarkable example of the composition and subject matter used in Northern Renaissance painting. The composition of the Mrode Altarpiece is remarkable, particularly in how it merges the familiar with the Divine.
In the left wing of the polyptych, we see a garden scene that represents the donors of the altarpiece. The garden features a flock of birds, which is a common motif in Northern Renaissance art, symbolizing the human soul.
This left panel is characterized by a strong sense of symmetry and order, with the Engelbrecht family resembling a united whole. The central panel features the Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, portrayed with a calm and serene look.
Mary’s orange robe creates a severe contrast with the blue of Gabriel’s clothing, emphasizing her purity. In contrast, the baby Jesus is shown with a garishly red cloak symbolizing the impending danger that He will face.
The right wing depicts St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, at work in his carpentry studio. He is surrounded by tools, bits of wood, and, intriguingly, a few mouse traps.
The inclusion of mouse traps is thought to symbolize the victory of God, trapping the devils, the mice, who are escaping them. The workshop in which Joseph is depicted is placed within a monk’s cell, complete with a religious text and an altar.
The placement of the workshop in the cell highlights the significant role that religious work has in people’s lives, even for those employed in mundane professions. Formal Analysis: Color, Light, Texture, and Perspective
The Mrode Altarpiece is a remarkable example of the Northern Renaissance style, characterized by a limited color palette and attention to light.
The color harmony of the altarpiece is striking. The use of warm colors such as red, orange, and gold highlights the divine, while the cool colors- blues and greens- are used to portray the earthly environment.
The color harmony extends to the clothes of the figures in the altarpiece, for instance, the blue and gold clothing of Gabriel and Mary, contributing to the balance and coherence of the composition. The skillful use of light in the Mrode Altarpiece is notable and contributes to the naturalistic appearance of the figures.
There is a clear understanding of light sources and the consequent shadows and light falling on the figures. The texture of the Mrode Altarpiece is smooth, with realistic detail.
The brushstrokes used in the altarpiece are not prominent. Instead, the surface of the painting is smooth, contributing to the fine detail and precision of the work.
The oil painting technique enabled the smooth texture and provided the opportunity for its soft glow, making the painting appear more luminous. The perspective used in the Mrode Altarpiece provides a more holistic view of the composition.
The eye-level perspective is used in the central panel of the Annunciation, which makes us feel like participants in the scene. The elevated perspective in the right panel, where we look down on St. Joseph, introduces a sense of distance between the earthly and the divine, or heaven and earth, and is a typical feature of Northern Renaissance art.
Finally, the sculpture influence is visible through the composition’s use of spatial organization, making the work appear more three-dimensional. In conclusion, The Mrode Altarpiece is a masterpiece of the Northern Renaissance, characterized by its attention to detail, use of color and light, and its sense of naturalism.
Despite the controversy surrounding its attribution, the altarpiece’s composition and subject matter represent the period through which it was created, and it contributes significantly to the understanding of this period of art. The Mrode Altarpiece is a masterpiece of the Northern Renaissance, created by an artist from Robert Campin’s workshop, epitomized by a combination of religious and secular themes and a vast range of symbolism.
Through its use of color, light, and texture, the altarpiece achieved a unique sense of naturalism, while its subjects’ compositions combined both the earthly and the divine. The article discussed topics such as the significance of the Mrode Altarpiece’s artist attribution, composition, and formal analysis, including its technicalities and historical context.
Overall, the article showcases the Mrode Altarpiece’s contribution to art history and its importance in gaining insights into the world in which the painting was created.