Renaissance

 

 The Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele is a

large oil on oak panel painting by the

Early Netherlandish painter Jan van Eyck. One of his late works, it was commissioned in the autumn 1434 and took two years to complete. It was intended both to celebrate the still living donor's dedication to his church, St. Donatian's Cathedral in Bruges, and to serve as his epitaph. It is one of the earliest known Northern Sacra conversazione. It shows the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus on her lap, seated on an elevated throne decorated with carved representations of Adam and Eve, prefigurations of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, and figures from Old Testament scenes. In the early 15th century Mary grew in importance as an intercessor between the divine and members of the Christian faith.

 

Shortly after it was finished (The Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele ), the painting already enjoyed great fame.The Canon is portrayed dressed in a white surplice, kneeling down in front of Mary and Baby Jesus, holding his prayer book and his glasses in his hands. Mary is seated on a copiously decorated throne dressed in a red cloak. Jesus is sitting on her lap on a white cloth. He is playing with a green, ring-necked parakeet while handing a little bouquet of flowers to Mary. Next to Joris Van der Paele, his patron saint, Saint George, is walking into the scene, dressed in a harness. He takes off his helmet and salutes Jesus with 'Adona[i]' ('lord' in Hebrew) - as written on his harness - and introduces the Canon to Mary and Jesus. He is holding a white flag with a red cross clasped in his arm.On Mary's left is the bishop Saint Donatian of Reims. He is wearing a cope (a liturgical garment) decorated with golden and blue embroidery and a mitre. In one hand he is holding a crosier and in the other hand his attribute, a wheel with five burning candles. The scene is depicted in an apse or a rounded construction, of which the round arches are supported by pillars featuring ornamented capitals.The painting is still mounted in its original frame. This frame has several inscriptions amongst which is the artist's signature.

 

The panel's donor, Joris van der Paele, was born in Bruges c 1370 and spent his early career as a lay papal scribe in Rome before returning to his native city in 1425 as a wealthy man.Van Eyck's mastery at handling oil can be seen in the variety of brush strokes used to create the high degree of realism and minute details.Jan van Eyck is one of the most famous 'Flemish Primitives' and is credited with originating the painting style associated with them. As a court painter-he first entered the service John of Bavaria, the Count of Holland, in The Hague and afterwards served at the court of the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good-he is to be considered one of the most important painters of his era. He gained a reputation particularly because of his distinctive painting style, which is characterised by a great feeling for detail, a minutely accurate execution method and a vivid colour palette.