66. Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece)

 

Annunciation Triptych 

Workshop of Robert Campin. 1427-1432 C.E. Tournai, Belgium

Oil on wood. It consists of three hinged panels (triptych format): the left panel depicts the donor and his wife; the central and most important panel shows the Annunciation itself, and its two main characters, Mary and Archangel Gabriel; the right panel portrays Joseph in his workshop. The triptych is unsigned and undated, and only since the early 20th century has Robert Campin been identified as its creator, albeit with help from his assistants, one of whom may have been his greatest pupil Roger van der Weyden (1400-64).

More images- https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_search=1&tags=campin&user_id=82032880%40N00&view_all=1

Form:

• Overall (open): 25 3/8 x 46 3/8 in.

Central panel: 25 1/4 x 24 7/8 in.

Each wing: 25 3/8 x 10 3/4 in.

• Central scene looks like a living room of someone living in Northern Europe

• A lot of detail–– pay attention to everything

• Like shiny nails, shadows, rust

• Shows age of doors

• Even in background (can see men on horseback and a town etc.)

• Interest in light–– using oil paint so they can paint texture (unlike Italian Renaissance)

• A lot of realism, yet expressed differently

• Space of the room doesn’t make sense because perspective hadn’t really been put into place yet

• Not mathematically accurate

• The table is a double perspective

• Creates a telescoping that brings the viewer in–– makes the room available

Function:

• Can be folded up and carried

• Made to maintain an interest–– physical objects to spiritual ideas

• To aid in private devotion

Content:

• Center Scene–– Mary and Gabriel

• Modern context

• Not meant to secularize the scene–– but to make them closer to us and make prayer more intimate

• Gabriel just appeared to Mary to tell her she will give birth to Christ

• The drapery has sharp folds–– falls on the floor and obscures bodies

• The shiny pot represents Mary’s purity

• Many things in the room (many have to do with the incarnation)

• Small figure holding a cross coming through the window heading towards Mary (the holy spirit)

• Unusual because it is usually a dove, but this is one of the first time that God takes human form

• Donors are on the left

• The Patrons–– man and his wife

• Kneeling–– can recognize them as donors

• In a walled garden (hortus conclusus)–– refers to Mary’s virginity

• Joseph is on the right

• He is making tools in a workshop–– he is a carpenter

• Reminds us of how handmade the painting is (it is on wood)

• Can see prosperous city through window

• Mousetrap for sale outside window

Context:

• Campin was a very successful painter with apprentices and assistants

• Newfound prosperity in Northern Europe–– so commissions are increasing

• Annunciation was painted first, then the left side donors were added

• This painting would have been seen over and over again

Cross Cultural Connection:

• Isenheim Altarpiece

• Chartres Royal Portal