This triptych, which is missing the central panel, comes from an anonymous master from the circle of Lucas d’Heere. When closed, it shows a vanitas, which is accompanied by a verse in Latin on the left and in Dutch on the right. A skull and crossbones, surmounted by a sceptre and a shovel, is depicted atop a black coffin with a white cross. On the back of these panels, which are painted on both sides, is a picture of John the Baptist (left) and an unidentified donor (right). The Ghent painter-poet Lucas d’Heere was probably a member of the Chamber of Rhetoric known as De Balsemblomme, which was established by Philip the Fair. The artist accorded the society a prominent role in the entry of William of Orange in 1577. The motto on the vanitas complies with the taste and tradition of the rhetorical Flemish painters. In a free translation it reads: ‘O Lord, your cross confronts me, the miserable, with my crimes, and leaves me dissatisfied with my life. But your sweet word ‘it is finished’ cheers my heart and gives me new life, so that I should not be discouraged – I, who am burdened with guilt.’
| Artist | |
|---|---|
|
Lucas d'Heere
RKD
|
|
| Title | John the Baptist (left wing), Donor (right wing), Vanitas Still Life (closed) |
| Period | 16th century |
| Location | Southern Netherlands TGN |
| Signatures, inscriptions, and markings | inscription polyptych, exterior panels, at the left: CRVX TVA CHRISTE MIHI MISERO MEA CRIMINA PADIT/DISPLICEAT FACIENS. VT MEA VITA MIHI / SED VOX HEC. COSVMATV EST. ME RECREAT VT NON / DESPEREM. QVAMVIS. IMPIETATE GRAVIS TOOCHT MY CLAE |
| inscription polyptych, exterior panels, at the right: OHEERE V CRVCE RLYK MY MISDAET / EN MAECT DAT ICK BEN BYCANS DESPERAET / MAER DIT V SOETE WOORT. HET IS AL VERVVLT / VERHEVCHT MY HERTE. HOE GROOT OZ IS MY SCVLT. | |
| Collection | paintings AAT |
| Object type | oil paintings (visual works) AAT |
| Inventory number | S-101 |
| Acquisition credit |
onbekend |
| Current whereabouts | Work currently not on display |
| Permalink | https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/S-101 |
| IIIF Manifest |
https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6891/manifest.json
https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6892/manifest.json https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6893/manifest.json https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6894/manifest.json https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6895/manifest.json https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6896/manifest.json https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/6897/manifest.json |
| Art & Architecture Thesaurus |
300055874
religious symbolism
AAT
300015638 still lifes AAT 300015636 landscapes AAT |
|---|---|
| Keywords Iconclass |
11H(JOHN THE BAPTIST)
John the Baptist; possible attributes: book, reed cross, baptismal cup, honeycomb, lamb, staff
Iconclass
11R5 (personifications of) 'Vanitas', the vanity of human life; Fragilita humana, Fugacita delle grandezze della gloria mondana, Meditatione della morte, Opera vana, Piacere vano, Vana gloria, Vanita (Ripa) Iconclass 11R71 skull as symbol of 'Vanitas' Iconclass 25G3 trees Iconclass 25H11 mountains Iconclass 31A233 kneeling figure Iconclass 31A71 male sex; man Iconclass 47I2133 lamb Iconclass 61B111 anonymous historical person portrayed alone Iconclass 61B2 historical persons Iconclass 73 New Testament 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.] (nrs. 8-9) |
| Lucas De Heere (Fonds Richard de Moor). - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [s.a.] |
| Catalogue du musée de peinture de la ville de Gand, 1900 / Louis Maeterlinck. - Gand : Imprimerie Victor Van Doosselaere, 1900 (nrs. 16-17) |
| Une oeuvre de Lucas De Heere au Musée de Gand / Louis Maeterlinck. - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [s.a.] (p. 271-272) |
| Faut-il considérer Lucas De Heere comme étant le Maître des demi figures de femmes ? / Louis Maeterlinck. - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [s.a.] (p. 125-133) |
| Les peintres rhétoriciens flamands et le "Maître des femmes à mi-corps" / Louis Maeterlinck. - [s.l.] : [s.n.], [s.a.] (p. 236) |
| Museum van Schoone Kunsten : Catalogus ; Oude Meesters, Schilderstukken, teekeningen, plaatsneden (met geschiedkundig overzicht) / Maurice Dupuis, Georges Charles Nicolas Marie Hulin de Loo, Fritz Van Loo. - Gent : Drukkerij F. De Vos, 1938 ; Gent : Stad Gent, 1938 (p. 147) |
| 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. 102-103 (ill.)) |
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