Essay Sample on Virgin and Child with Angels: Gerald David's Iconic Masterpiece

Introduction

"Virgin and Child with four Angels" are considered as a small oil-on-panel painting by Gerald David who was an Early Netherlandish artist. The work of art was likely to be completed between 1510 and 1515. It shows little Jesus Christ being carried by the Virgin Mary while Mary is crowned the queen of heaven by two angels who are above her. They are also accompanied by music which is provided by the other two angles placed at either side of Mary. Moreover, in the arts' fine detail and lush color usage, the work can be said to be typical of the late period Flemish art and David. Painted for more private devotion, the art depicts Mary in full length holding baby Jesus. Angels are surrounding a mother and son. The two angels who are above Mary are adorned with large colorful wings holding a golden crown which symbolizes the role of Mary as the queen of Heaven, while the other two, each having enormous wings, sit on her side playing a harp and lute respectively (Jameson, 1857).

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Moreover, the scene occurs in a walled garden below a Gothic arch which intends to represent the virginity and purity of Mary and before a view of numerous contemporary Bruges. As depicted in the work of art, all the figures are highly and significantly idealized which was the best to the art of the period; naturalism can be said to be abandoned so that elongated figures may be favored, who in the art is out of proportion to one another (Jameson, 1898). Nevertheless, Mary is far much larger than all the angels who put her to be in her ethereal, unnatural, heavenly presence. The eyes as well, of all the six figures, are averted from any viewer and the only baby Jesus can be seen looking directly out of the canvas. Moreover, the piece of art is highly symmetrical as the two figures in the center are balanced perfectly by two pairs of large winged angels arranged on either side. Also, baby Jesus takes the dead canvas center, and the lines of the pathway balance the garden which is seen on either side of Mary. The hill in the far left, on the other hand, balances the church in the distance to the right (Jameson, 1857).

Historical Context

In the early 1500s, the influence of Jan Van Eyck was at its height which made David base his painting heavily on the late work of Van Eyck named the virgin and a child at a foundation. Moreover, due to the demand and popularity for many devotional portraits for use in private worship, the standard iconography or the format of numerous biblical scenes were standardized (Jameson, 1898). They were always copied from the earlier painters, particularly if the source picture was commercially successful; this type of panel painting would be among the highest commissioned at the end of the market. Van Eyck's child and virgin also dated c 1510 to 1515 and currently, a section of a private collection in Belgium is based on Adriaen Isenbrandt's painting which is also among the three near-identical variants which David painted of a scene in the same pose and format (Jameson, 1898; Belan, 2018).

View or Experience Within the Museum's Setting

With the location of the work of art in the museum, many churches of Onze Lieve Vrouw and Sint Jakobs can be seen or identified in the cityscape beyond the garden. Additionally, the placement of a Carthusian monk who can be said to be walking underneath a tree in the garden behind the virgin, the son and the four angels makes it more likely that the work of art was commissioned by one member of the Genadedal monastery outside the Bruges in Sint Kruis. It can also be said that the art or painting was the main center panel of a small, winged or triptych piece of the altar which was dismantled at some unknown point (Jameson, 1857).

The archway which is above the virgin Mary extends to two panels at the side referring to the Trinity. The art is a faithful two-dimensional photographic reproduction that is meant for the public domain. The work of art was, however, sent to the public domain because its author died in 1468 and it had to be maintained in its country of origin and other places where the life of the author plus a hundred years or less is the copyright term (Belan, 2018). Also, the Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, and the four angels are in the public domain in America as it was published and registered with the copyright office of United States before January 1st, 1924 (Belan, 2018).

Educational Information and Appreciation of Work

The type of educational information provided by the museum about the work is that in the ancient periods, people valued religion and they all knew about Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The sacredness of Mary and Jesus is still respected up to date regarding the type of walls and security the piece of work is given. Thus, these elements affect my appreciation of the work as it has been molded and painted perfectly despite the materials which were available in the 1500s. Also, the symmetrical view of the piece of work depicts the genius and dedication of the author.

References

Belan, K. (2018). The Virgin in Art. Parkstone International.

Jameson, A. (1857). Legends of the Madonna as Represented in the Fine Arts. Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, Roberts.

Jameson, M. (1898). Legends of the Madonna (Vol. 4). Houghton, Mifflin.