Rogier van der Weyden's Seven Sacraments: A Visual Exploration
The Seven Sacraments
There are so many beautiful pieces of art from the Renaissance that it was hard to choose a piece to discuss. As I clicked on image after image, I stopped clicking when the Seven Sacraments appeared on my screen. What first drew my attention was the depth and texture of the picture. It almost looked as though it was part painting and part sculpture. In the middle panel hung the Crucification of Christ in a cathedral-like setting. The room stretched back behind him, giving such depth it made me wonder if it was somehow 3D when viewing it in person. I began researching the piece and discovered more details in the painting the longer I looked. I was hooked. Here was a painting that mesmerized one instantly. It is not a painting to glimpse at and move on, but to take time to get lost in the details, viewing the emotions and activities of the faithful people portrayed in the painting. I can just imagine sitting in church, and as the Priest drones on and on, the visual beauty captures a person's imagination and begs one to find new details not yet discovered.
Rogier van der Weyden was born as Rogier de la Pasture, in Tournai. When he later moved to Brussels, he took the name van der Weyden, a more Flemish name. The change in his name has made it difficult for scholars to find historical records of his early life. He trained under Robert Campin, another Great Renaissance artist, sometime in the mid-1420s. You can see Campin's influence on realism in Van der Weyden's work. Both incorporated attention to detail and texture with vibrant colors from oil painting. Their art created an almost 3D-like picture. The depth created by linear perspective, shadow and light, and intricate details of architecture brought their paintings to life.
Rogier van der Weyden moved to Brussels sometime in the mid-1430s. He was believed to have been commissioned to paint four large paintings for Brussels city hall. Unfortunately, it was destroyed a couple hundred years later in the Nine Years War. Nonetheless, Rogier van der Weyden gained the title Painter of Brussels and set up a workshop, where he trained other painters and did well for himself, his family, and the community. Documents show that in 1450, he traveled to Rome, where he would have encountered other artists. During this time, he also met The Medicis. He, along with his teacher Robert Campin and colleague the famous Jan van Eyck, were three of the most influential artists of the Northern Renaissance. He died in June of 1464 as a renowned Master Painter.
The Renaissance was the rediscovery of art spanning a few hundred years. Both the Italian and Northern Renaissances had strong affinities for religion. With the Italian Renaissance, inspiration came from religion, depicting humans as perfect and beautiful in God's image. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks also inspired artists. However, in Northern European countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, Renaissance artists were influenced not only by religion but also by the finest details of human emotions and their domestic life, realism, and symbolism. The Northern Renaissance is also closely tied with the Protestant Reformation when the Catholic Church split and a new faith ideology arose.
The Seven Sacraments is an altarpiece commissioned for a church in Poligny in the mid-15th Century. Speculation points to Bishop Jean Chevrot, an advisor to Duke Philip the Good, who commissioned this. This beautiful Triptych, which now hangs at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, was created in 1445-1450. This was around the same period the printing press was invented by Gutenberg and half a century before the Protestant Reformation. It shows the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and anointing the sick. It reminds us that Jesus died for the sins of his faithful followers and that his followers can continue to show their faith through the Holy Sacraments. The Eucharist, in particular, came under attack from Martin Luther, as he did not believe the Holy Communion changed anything by way of salvation.
This beautiful altarpiece is so much more than meets the eye. The details are what begin to draw us in. One might be drawn first to Christ on the cross, his realistically thin body limp and hanging in his death. The cathedral he is in seems to expand back, the texture and light bringing depth to the exquisitely detailed architecture. Glancing around, we see faithful followers strengthening their faith in their devotion and practicing the seven sacraments. Below the crucified Christ, we find some of his most faithful, the Marys and St. John the Evangelist. Their emotions are palpable in their expressions. Their tears, just visible, falling from their eyes. These tears drew me in. They were hard to see, but the more I looked, the more tears I noticed. It was as if the painting was alive and the women's tears were actively flowing.
Behind them, we see a priest offering up the Eucharist, a symbol of the body of Christ, in the holy sacrament. The altarpiece behind him is detailed, with the Virgin Mary as a statue; the details and depth look 3D. We see a green angel with a banner telling us which sacrament this is. The intricately carved pillars around the altarpiece draw our eyes further back into the room. Behind a closed gate, we see a priest reading. On the other side we catch glimpses of people in their worship and sacraments. Perhaps the couple behind the pillar is waiting for something, or they are there to be married? Another man behind the pillar looks upon the Priest performing the sacred communion. Yet another man behind him reads a book, perhaps a Bible, behind a locked gate. Further to the right, we see the open door; outside, we see the sick and poor needing alms.
Continuing with this line of sight, we move into the right panel. Here, we see three angels, red, blue, and Black, showing us three more sacraments. The gold banner hanging from the red-cloaked angel denotes the sacrament of the Holy Order. Here, we see a Priest being ordained. Look at the details of their robes, particularly the Bishops. The gold in his lining, the cup, and the large broach. All reflecting light. Once again, the texture and depth look so real. Even the wrinkles in the Bishop's face compared to the smoother skin of the young Priest.
The Blue angel hangs a golden banner of Marriage. Beneath, we see a richly draped couple joining in holy matrimony. Van der Weyden's skill exquisitely portrayed their velvet and fur-lined clothes. Even the gold lining from the Priest's robes, wrapping their hands together, reflects the light. We see a lady reading near their feet, a small dog beside her. Again, we see the beautiful texture of the lady's fur-lined velvet dress and the dog's fur. We also glimpse some comfort from the dog and see a new cultural shift, a woman reading. Literacy was increasing, the Printing Press had just been invented, and people were gaining access to previously unattainable works. It's interesting to note that the Bible was printed only five years after this altar was finished. Just as these small details of people reading in the painting appear to us, the relatively small invention of the printing press turned out to be revolutionary in history and religion.
The black-robed angel stares down at another sacrament, Anointing the sick. Look at the features of the people, wrinkles depicting age, and the sick man is thin, pale, and gaunt. The Priest's grey robes reflect light, making it appear as if it shimmers. The pillows are not perfect, and the pillow is pulled back from the pillow. The depth and texture make it all look so real.
We jump to the left panel and see three more angels representing the other sacraments. Underneath the white angel, we see a small baby Baptized over the holy water basin. Behind the young mother is another soon-to-be mother witnessing this holy sacrament. Soon, she will be doing this with her own baby.
Next to them, we find young children in Confirmation, bringing the youth deeper into their relationship and faith with God. Three have already been confirmed, and two are in the confirmation process. Notice the dog between these two sacraments, again a symbol of faith, loyalty, and comfort. At the children's feet, we see the robe of the woman comforting a weeping Mary in the main panel. Her beautiful, finely detailed robe overflowing into this panel.
Finally, we come to Confession, where we see a man and woman on their knees, asking forgiveness from a priest. The red angel above, with the gold banner hanging over their heads, also tells us this. Looking at the man's hat on the floor, you can make out fine lines, denoting the dyed straw from which it is made. Just behind these three people, we spy another room in the background, where people are worshipping together in prayer led by a priest. Devotion in all aspects of a believer's life. Through all this, have you noticed how wonderfully dressed everyone is? Is Rogier van der Weyden portraying what he knew in his own life? Or do we see the underlying turmoil beginning to bubble up against the Catholic church? We see so much grief and joy depicted on the faces of the faithful people inside the cathedral. Yet outside this grand cathedral we glimpse the sick and poor not being helped. We see many people reading books, which once they read the bible for themselves they began to question what the church was demanding from them for their faith and salvation. Finally, Martin Luther protested the Eucharist, our middle panel, and proclaimed that Christ was crucified for our sins and that we only had to believe in him to be saved. The sacraments and rituals of the Catholic church did not prevent us from salvation if they weren't practiced. I wonder what thoughts Rogier van der Weydon had while painting this, as I'm sure people were beginning to talk.
Imagine the awe and wonder one must have felt the first time they saw this. Perhaps people in the area were growing used to the many artists' painting techniques, minute intricacies, and detailed architecture. Still, I'd have loved to witness the first time someone new to these techniques saw this painting or one similar. The realism and depth must have been astounding to the eyes and soul. Michelangelo stated it eloquently,
"Flemish painting... will please the devout better than any painting of Italy, which will never cause him to shed a tear, whereas that of Flanders will cause him to shed many."
Looking at this masterpiece, we can ponder these feelings and look back in time to cultural customs and inventions. With hindsight, we can glimpse the beginnings of a cultural shift in thought and ideals as more people became literate and would soon have access to the Bible to read for themselves. The Renaissance, a rebirth of art and ideas in all aspects, inspired more learning, curiosity, and critical thinking. It was a turning point in people's faith, religion, and history.
Here are some resources to explore the Seven Sacraments more in-depth and close up.
First, a close-up musical journey through the Triptych. As it zooms in and out, you will see more stunning details.
Works cited:
Seven Sacraments by Rogier van der Weyden
upload.wikimedia.org
Finnan, Vincent. “Robert Campin. The Master of Flémalle.” Italian Renaissance Art, https://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Robert-Campin. Accessed 30 September 2024.
Ainsworth, Maryan. “Rogier van der Weyden Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, 23 January 2021, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/van-der-weyden. Accessed 30 September 2024.
Mark, Joshua J., and John Bossy. “Johannes Gutenberg.” World History Encyclopedia, 25 July 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/Johannes_Gutenberg/. Accessed 30 September 2024.
Zucker, Steven, and Beth Harris. "Smarthistory – The Protestant Reformation." Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/the-protestant-reformation Accessed 30 September 2024.
I totally see why you chose this piece! I like your comment on the details in the tears that give the painting motion. The history behind the painter and his connection with other famous renaissance artists was interesting to read about. I personally like the pops of color on an otherwise bland background. I can see how you came to the conclusion of the art appearing 3D and I think, like you, that its would be an awesome piece to see in person. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete