Rogier Van Der Weyden Analysis
The Descendent of the Messiah.
The Deposition of Christ painted by the artist Rogier van der Weyden is the most influential Netherlandish painting of Christ’s crucifixion. Based on the work’s style, and because van der Weyden reached renown around this time, is estimated that the painting was created in the year 1435 (1). The painting was an altarpiece, intended for the Chapel of the Confraternity of the Archers of Leuven, who commissioned it. The scene shown would have lasted a moment, but there is nothing momentary about its depiction, which is quite attached to the historical event. Rogier emphasized the energy of the painting creating a life-like piece that clearly recreates the moment of pain for Christ and his friends. When Civil War broke out in Spain in 1936, many religious works of art were destroyed. The Spanish Republic took action to protect its artistic masterpieces; The Descent from the Cross was evacuated from El Escorial to Valencia. It was brought to Switzerland by train in the summer of 1939, where the Spanish Republic publicized its plight with an exhibition: "Masterpieces of the Prado", held in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneva. That September, the painting returned to the Prado, where it has since remained (2) (3). By 1992, the Descent was in a state of decay …show more content…
Van der Weyden compresses in this painting the most important story of the humanity with a maximum amount of human emotions and suffering. The Deposition is among the outstanding masterpieces of Netherlands' art, and one of the mainstays of Rogier's fame. As the work of a painter aged 35 to 40, it can hardly be described as a youthful production, yet only with this painting can we begin to see Rogier more clearly as an artistic personality. Most important of all, the picture shows unmistakable similarities with some of his major work
The Deposition of Christ painted by the artist Rogier van der Weyden is the most influential Netherlandish painting of Christ’s crucifixion. Based on the work’s style, and because van der Weyden reached renown around this time, is estimated that the painting was created in the year 1435 (1). The painting was an altarpiece, intended for the Chapel of the Confraternity of the Archers of Leuven, who commissioned it. The scene shown would have lasted a moment, but there is nothing momentary about its depiction, which is quite attached to the historical event. Rogier emphasized the energy of the painting creating a life-like piece that clearly recreates the moment of pain for Christ and his friends. When Civil War broke out in Spain in 1936, many religious works of art were destroyed. The Spanish Republic took action to protect its artistic masterpieces; The Descent from the Cross was evacuated from El Escorial to Valencia. It was brought to Switzerland by train in the summer of 1939, where the Spanish Republic publicized its plight with an exhibition: "Masterpieces of the Prado", held in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneva. That September, the painting returned to the Prado, where it has since remained (2) (3). By 1992, the Descent was in a state of decay …show more content…
Van der Weyden compresses in this painting the most important story of the humanity with a maximum amount of human emotions and suffering. The Deposition is among the outstanding masterpieces of Netherlands' art, and one of the mainstays of Rogier's fame. As the work of a painter aged 35 to 40, it can hardly be described as a youthful production, yet only with this painting can we begin to see Rogier more clearly as an artistic personality. Most important of all, the picture shows unmistakable similarities with some of his major work