Rogier van der Weyden
The main characteristics of Rogier van der Weyden
style are :
The artwork is usually religious biblical art or portraits.
Two examples are "Portrait of a Lady" and " Descent
from the Cross".
The use of line and faint shading in the portraits. These
traits are presented in the painting "Portrait of a Lady"
where the line and shading are used to show the
simple and cool design.
The artist uses drama and emotion to emphasize the
facial expressions. In the painting "Descent from the
Cross" the facial expressions on the figures show that
the people are in pain and sorrow.
Rogier van der Weyden was born in
the 1399 and died 1464. Rogier van
der Weyden style most of focused
especially on human emotion. He
worked on large surfaces and had
a great influence on many artists
the followed him.
"Portrait of a Lady "
The bodies of the figures are twisted and blended to
highlight strong emotions. An example of these
qualities is the painting "Descent from the Cross". The
bodies are crouched and wrapped around Jesus to
present sadness.
The artist demonstrates the lively use of colour with soft
half-shadows and glowing colors to show details in the
figures. These characteristics are demonstrate in the
"Descent from the Cross" because, the dark and the
light areas are blended together to make the colour and
details on the figures more realistic.
The figures in the paintings are organized carefully and
placed together perfectly. An example of this is in
Rogier's painting "The Last Judgment” where the figures
are placed equally on both sides of Jesus in the
painting.
"The Last Judgment "
The art work shows clear and balanced composition.
"The Last Judgment" is also an example of these
characteristics because the painting is balanced and
symmetrical on both sides as well.
The Religious Story :
Analysis of the Painting :
The story of this painting the "Descent from the Cross" is
about the after effects of Jesus' crucifixion. After the last
supper when Judas was reviled for betraying Jesus. Jesus
takes his disciples to the mountain to pray. Then Judas
and the soldiers arrived and arrested Jesus. Jesus was
taken to the high priests and questioned by them. Then
he was taken to Pontius Pilate and there he was declared
guilty. Jesus was tortured by the soldiers. Next he carried
his cross to Golgotha where he was crucified. And finally
after his death on the cross Jesus Christ was taken down
from the cross and put in the tomb.
In the painting van der Weyden depicts the
descent of Jesus Christ from the cross after
crucifixion. In the center of the painting Jesus
is taken down from the cross by John the
Evangelist and Nicodemus. Jesus is hardly
painted with any wounds or injuries from his
crucifixion and his body is positioned in an "S"
shape. On the left is Mary Magdalene in the
purple dress and red sleeves and the woman in
blue is Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus. Her grief and
sorrow causes her to faint and her body is placed in the
similar "S" shape as her son.
Analysis of Symbols :
Skull : is a symbol of death and mortality.
It also reminds us that we are looking at
Golgotha, the Mount of Skulls, where
Jesus was crucified. The skull also
represents Adam from the creation story
because Adam was also believed to have
been buried near the site of Christ's
crucifixion. This is also a symbol that Jesus
has died to save us from Adam's original
sin.
Cross: mean both suffering when Jesus
was crucified and triumph for the
redemption of the world from sin.
Crossbows: is a symbol of van der Weyden
gratitude and respect towards St. Georges
Guild of Crossbowmen at Louvain for
commission of painting " Descent from the
Cross". Christ and Virgin Mary both have
Rogier van der Weyden, Descent from the Cross, ca 1435.
Oil on panel
their feet held together and their arms in a bowed extension
making their bodies resemble a crossbow.
The "s" curve: both of Jesus and Mary's bodies are positioned in a "S"
shape to show their relationship to each other