Of all the surviving works of Rogier van der Weyden, this date is most accurately dated. On the back of the wings of the triptych are the coats of arms of the citizen of the city of Turnet Jean Braque and his wife, Catherine de Brabant, as well as the skull and the inscription: “Know, ambitious and proud, my body was once beautiful, but now it serves only as food for worms “.
The couple in question was married around 1451, and in the same year Jean died suddenly, so we can assume that the triptych was ordered in memory of Jean Braque. Or that the work was ordered for the wedding, but then it “remakes” into a memorial. Katerina experienced much of her husband and in 1497 mentioned this image in her will, however, without the artist’s name. On the central panel of the triptych, Christ is represented with the Theotokos and the Apostle John. On the side panels the viewer sees John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene.
Note that the “Triptych of Marriage” – the first in the history of the Netherlands, painting, where the figures are shown to the waist. It is possible that this principle of depicting figures Rogir borrowed from Italian masters.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)