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The Beatitudes of Christ, 1553

  • oil paint, panel
  • 124 x 46.4 cm
  • Inv. S-100

Public Domain

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This remarkable triptych is constructed in the form of a visual narrative in a style that is popular and animated. In the centre panel, Christ is seated on a mountain addressing the people. This is the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in which Jesus talks about the eight beatitudes. Each of the side panels is divided into three scenes and the lower section of the centre panel into two. Each scene portrays one of the eight beatitudes. The whole is surrounded by a finely painted frame. Bands of text and inscriptions in Dutch explain each picture. It was partly due to the influence of the Reformation that a translation of biblical texts into the vernacular was also common practice in Catholic circles in the sixteenth century. The triptych originates from the former church of the order of Calced Carmelites in Ghent. The art treasures of the monastery and the church were destroyed during the first iconoclasm in 1566. The triptych of the eight beatitudes was therefore probably commissioned after this date. The coat of arms of Anton van Hille and his wife Martine van Zevecote are found on the back of the side panels. They probably commissioned the work. Antoon van Hille was an examining magistrate in Ghent and was known for his opposition to the Reformation.

Artist

Anonymous Master
painters (artists)AAT

Title The Beatitudes of Christ
Date 1553
Period 16th century
Location Southern Netherlands TGN
Signatures, inscriptions, and markings aphorism polyptych, central panel, upper register: Salich zyn sij die In uwen huyse wonen, die sullen hu louen Inden tyt des eewicheyts - Psal. LXXXiii; opschrift boven de Christusfiguur : Hy heeft v ghegheuen eenen leeraer der recht- / ueerdicheyt. Ioelis. II Hoort hem - Matt. XV. Opschrift op een banderol onder de duif : Die gheest des heeren es vp my, daer omme heeft hy my ghesalft / ende heeft my ghesonden om te prekene den aerme. Luc iiii.
aphorism polyptych, central panel, under the upper register: Ic ben van hem ghestelt een Conynck vp Syon Sijnen heleghen beerch prekende zyn ghebot. Psal. ii.. Zinspreuk onder het rechtervlak van de benedenregister : Salich zyn die baermhertighe, want zy baermherticheyt / verweeruen sullen.
inscription polyptych, middle panel, lower register: Toordeel gods; godsrecht weerdickeyt; woord Gods; Duivel gods ; gherechticheyt; ghenade; opschriften rechts : Mesdaet; Goedertierenheyt; baermherticheyt gods; Liefde.
aphorism opened polyptych, left panel, upper register: Salich zynse die aerme zyn van gheeste/want dat rycke der hemelen behoort hemlien toe.
inscription upper register: heerghiericheyt; hoocheyt; Begheerte des weerlts.
aphorism polyptych, left panel, middle register, opened: Salich zijn die Sachtmoedighe, want zy / besitten sullen die aerde. Opschriften : Spyticheyt; Iniurie.
aphorism opened polyptych, left panel, in the lower register: Salich zyn sij die bedrouft zyn, want / zy vertroost sullen worden. Opschriften : Berau der sonden; Apoca. 21; Melyden.
aphorism opened polyptych, right panel, upper register
aphorism
inscription: Salich zyn die ghene die vervolghinghe lyden, om die rechtueerdicheyt, want dat rycke des hemelen behoort hem toe.
Patietie; steercke vulheridcheyt.
bovenaan het wapenschild van de familie Van Hille op een banderol : REPOZ EN GVERRE. Onder de figuur : BALAAM. Onderaan het opschrift : O IACOB HOE SCHOONE SY VWE TEN / TE EN VWE WONYGHE ISRAEL SY SYN / GHELYCK BREEDE GROENE DALEN EN.
inscription: bovenaan het wapenschild van de familie Van Sevecote op een banderol : NON SANS EN NVY.
inscription: BALACK.
GHELYCK DIE HOVE AT WATER GHELYCK/DIE TENTE DIE DE HEERE PLAT GHELYCK /DIE CEDRE ANDE WATER : NV. XXIII.E.XXIIII.
Collection paintings AAT
Object type oil paintings (visual works) AAT
Inventory number S-100
Acquisition credit
onbekend
Current whereabouts Work on display
Permalink https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/S-100
IIIF Manifest https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6842/manifest.json
Art & Architecture Thesaurus 300055874 religious symbolism AAT
25H landscapes Iconclass
Keywords Iconclass 11C13 tetragram (in Roman or Hebrew script) ~ symbol of God the Father Iconclass
11D Christ Iconclass
11D3 Christ as adult Iconclass
11E1 Holy Ghost represented as a dove (in flames) Iconclass
11G angels Iconclass
11G2 activities of angels (in heaven) Iconclass
11GG19 lower angel(s) - GG - lower angel(s) without wings Iconclass
11K devil(s) and demons Iconclass
11Q511 the Bible as a book Iconclass
11Q71441 chalice Iconclass
11Q751 (public) prayer Iconclass
11R71 skull as symbol of 'Vanitas' Iconclass
11S heaven, celestial paradise, New Earth Iconclass
11S1 representations of celestial paradise (and its inhabitants) Iconclass
11S11 heaven represented in the air, with clouds (in concentric circles) and light Iconclass
11U3 symbols of Last Judgement Iconclass
25F42(VIPER) snakes: viper Iconclass
25G41(CARNATION) flowers: carnation Iconclass
25G41(LILY) flowers: lily Iconclass
25G4111 garland, wreath Iconclass
25G4111(+1) garland, wreath (+ plants used symbolically) Iconclass
25H112 rocks Iconclass
25I city-view, and landscape with man-made constructions Iconclass
25I12 prospect of city, town panorama, silhouette of city Iconclass
25I153 obelisk, needle Iconclass
26A clouds Iconclass
31A3191 blindfold Iconclass
31A65 spitting Iconclass
33B3 fighting Iconclass
41A housing Iconclass
41A1 civic architecture; edifices; dwellings Iconclass
41A14 urban housing Iconclass
41A343 ladder Iconclass
41A771 container of metal: bucket, can, canister, drum, tin, etc. Iconclass
41A7711(+1) container of precious metal (+ metal) Iconclass
41C621 bread, loaf Iconclass
41D266 ornaments, jewels Iconclass
41D29 clothed in rags Iconclass
44B191 crown (symbol of sovereignty) Iconclass
44B192 sceptre, staff (symbol of sovereignty) Iconclass
44B193 orb (symbol of sovereignty; sphere with cross on top) Iconclass
44G37 public punishment (death not intended or involved) Iconclass
44G373 corporal punishment in public Iconclass
45B the soldier; the soldier's life Iconclass
45C15(BOW AND ARROW) archer's weapons: bow and arrow Iconclass
45C19(SHIELD) protective weapons: shield Iconclass
46A122 coats of arms, heraldry Iconclass
46A151 beggar Iconclass
46A1632 money-chest, treasure-chest, money-box Iconclass
46B311 coin Iconclass
46B3311 scales Iconclass
46C24 sailing-ship, sailing-boat Iconclass
49L8 inscription Iconclass
57A42 Compunction, Remorse; 'Compuntione' (Ripa) Iconclass
57AA91 Cruelty, Ferocity; 'Crudelta', 'Ferocita' (Ripa) Iconclass
73 New Testament Iconclass
73C public life of Christ: from his baptism until the Passion Iconclass
73C7 Christ as teacher (part I): explaining his doctrine; teaching ~ parables and proverbs Iconclass
73C77 beatitudes and blessings of Christ Iconclass
73C771 beatitudes of the sermon on the mount Iconclass
73C7711 beatitudes of the sermon on the mount as series (Matthew 5:3-12) Iconclass
73C77111 blessed are the poor in spirit Iconclass
73C77112 blessed are those who mourn Iconclass
73C77113 blessed are the meek Iconclass
73C77114 blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness Iconclass
73C77115 blessed are the merciful Iconclass
73C77116 blessed are the pure in heart Iconclass
73C77117 blessed are the peacemakers Iconclass
73C77118 blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake Iconclass
73D82(COLUMN) column (of the flagellation) ~ instruments of the Passion Iconclass
73D82(CROSS) cross ~ instruments of the Passion Iconclass
73D82(CROWN OF THORNS) crown of thorns ~ instruments of the Passion Iconclass
73D82(PALM) single instruments of the Passion (PALM) Iconclass
73D82(WHIP) single instruments of the Passion (WHIP) Iconclass
86 proverbs, sayings, etc. Iconclass
School / Style Early Netherlandish AAT
Note des tableaux dessins et estampes déposés dans la ci-devant école de l'abbaye de Baudeloo. Ceux marqués d'un K sont conformes à la note du 10 ventôse an V, trouvés au quartier de l'abbé de Saint-Pierre / Charles Piot. - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [s.a.] (nr. 210)
Catalogue du musée de peinture de la ville de Gand, 1900 / Louis Maeterlinck. - Gand : Imprimerie Victor Van Doosselaere, 1900 (nr. 12)
Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent : Catalogus schilderkunst ; Deel I: 14de - 18de eeuw ; Deel II: 19de - 20ste eeuw / Robert Hoozee, Johan De Smet, Bruno Fornari, Ruth Monteyne. - Gent : Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent, 2007 (dl. I, p. 176-177 (ill.))
Frieden : Wie im Himmel so auf Erden? (Ausstellung Münster, LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, 28.04.2018 - 02.09.2018) / Thomas Flammer, Thomas Fusenig, Viktoria Weinebeck. - Dresden : Sandstein Verlag, 2018 (p. 108)
Der Friedenssucher (Entstanden anlässlich der Ausstellung "Frieden : Wie im Himmel so auf Erden?" Münster, LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, 28.04.2018 - 02.09.2018) / Rainer Oberthür, Barbara Nascimbeni, Katrin Egbringhoff, Thomas Flammer, Elisabeth Lange. - München : Deutscher Katecheten-Verein e.V., 2018
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