Cities of Belgium: Grant Allen's Historical GuidesAllen, Grant
History
Cities of Belgium: Grant Allen's Historical Guides
Allen, Grant
Belgium -- Guidebooks
253. Memling: **Exquisite portrait of a Premonstratensian Canon.
28. Dierick Bouts: The Madonna and Child. An excellent specimen of his
hard, careful manner.
203. Lucas of Leyden: David playing before Saul.
30. Bril, 1556-1626. Fine miniature specimen of later Flemish landscape,
with the Prodigal Son in the foreground.
559. Unknown but admirable portrait of a man.
223. Justus van Ghent: Nativity, with Adoration of the Shepherds. A good
picture, full of interesting episodes.
Beyond these, another case, containing fine small works. A beautiful
little *Madonna with the Fountain of Life (411) by Jan van Eyck, closely
resembling a large one by Meister Wilhelm, in the Museum at Cologne. Two
good unknown portraits. A splendid **portrait of a medallist (5) by
Antonello da Messina (sometimes attributed to Memling). A portrait (33)
of François II. of France as a child, by Clouet, of the old French
School. A characteristic *Albert Dürer (124), portrait of Frederick III.
of Saxony: and a good Gossaert (182). These do not need description, but
should be closely studied.
The place of honour on this wall is occupied by 393, a magnificent
=**Seven Sacraments=, usually attributed to =Roger van der Weyden=,
though believed by some to be a work of his master, Robert Campin of
Tournai. At any rate, it is a work full of Roger’s mystic spirit. In
form, it is a triptych, but the main subjects are continued through on
to the wings. The _central panel_ represents the Sacrament of the Mass,
typified in the foreground by a Crucifixion, taking place in the nave of
an unknown Gothic church. At the foot of the cross are the fainting
Madonna, supported by St. John (in red as usual) and a touching group of
the three Maries. The robe of one to the left overflows into the next
panel. In the background, the actual Mass is represented as being
celebrated at the High Altar. The architecture of the church (with its
triforium, clerestory, and apse, and its fine reredos and screen) is
well worth notice. So are the figures of Our Lady, St. Peter and St.
John, on the decorative work of the screen and reredos. I believe the
kneeling figure behind the officiating priest to be a portrait of the
donor. The _side panels_ represent the other sacraments, taking place in
the aisles and lateral chapels of the same church. L., Baptism,
Confirmation, Confession: in the Confirmation, the children go away
wearing the sacred bandage. R., Holy Orders, Matrimony, Extreme Unction.
Each of these groups should be carefully noted. The _colours_ of the
angels above are all symbolical:—white (innocence) for Baptism: yellow
(initiation) for Confirmation: red (love or sin) for confession and
absolution: green (hope) for the Eucharist: purple (self-sacrifice) for
Holy Orders: blue (fidelity) for Marriage: violet, almost black, (death)
for Extreme Unction. The picture is full of other episodes and mystical
touches. In all this beautiful and touching composition, the Mary to the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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