This series is utterly captivating. I had the privilege of viewing this work in Bruges. This video brings it to life even further for me by emphasizing such vivid details as the scenes of John the Baptist's life carved into the capitals, the position of John the Evangelist's hands as he pauses in his writing, stunned by his vision, and the mystical marriage of St Catherine.
INCREDIBLE oral presentation!….imagine being a patient lying in this chamber resting in the closed presence of this alter piece knowing you are receiving the best care possible …..but then it is opened in all its majesty!
We learn from your videos how Memling is truly an active narrator with his scenes, as his paintings are explained. Thank you for allowing us viewers to enjoy more profundly his masterpieces.
I'm obsessed with the paintings of Vittore Carpaccio right now, so it would be great to see a Smarthistory video covering one of his works (for example the Dream of St. Ursula or St. Jerome In His Study)
You might be interested in our essay on Carpaccio's Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Rialto Bridge smarthistory.org/carpaccio-miracle-relic-cross/ written by a curator at the Getty.
The rendition of Salome’s veil is mind boggling. And, as always with Memling the individual faces fascinate me. I am also as entranced by the mythical animals as I was as a child, when apocalyptic paintings were among my favorite because of the strange beasts moving through the paintings.
John the Baptist is my guy! With the exception of Paul, the BAMF-iest of biblical figures, lol.🔥 After flying to NY today(!!!), I could use a St. Jan's myself. What a lovely mission they had in caring for the weary traveler.. As if that wasn't lovely enough, the view of the interior (around 0:54) was just stunning! I wouldn't have expected such an elegant interior, but you can tell each detail was carefully considered. I felt super immature for wondering where Sean was on the right panel: "There's war, famine, pestilence, and Sean! But you're the most destructive of them all, apparently!" I needed that laugh. Didn't need to see my mans beheaded quite as much. The stance of the man holding the sword feels very intentional to me - as if he's incapable of facing forward (i.e. walking rightly), so he had to stand askance. Jerk. This is a beautiful piece, though. I can only imagine how it inspired visitors to this hospital if it's had so many effects on me.
The Cleveland museum has a nice explanation: "According to legend, John the Evangelist was given a cup of poisoned wine that he drank without harm. As emblems of the tale, John’s chalice symbolizes the Christian faith prevailing over death, signified by the serpent."
I'm astounded that this elegant and elaborate of a painting was made for a hospital. You mention that it's a truly charitable work. Is this sort of charitable work common? Or would it have been exceedingly unusual for a piece like this to be made for something like a hospital?
Two works come to mind that you might be interested in, 1. Matthias Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece made for the Isenheim hospital smarthistory.org/grunewald-isenheim-altarpiece/ 2. Rogier van der Weyden's The Last Judgment for l’Hôtel-Dieu, Beaune, also a hospital smarthistory.org/rogier-van-der-weyden-the-last-judgment/
Gorgeous. Great explanations. Thank you. I'd love to see you go thru Memling's "Scenes from the Passion of Christ," in Turin, showing 23 vignettes of the Life of Christ combined in one narrative composition: 19 episodes from the Passion of Christ, the Resurrection, and three later appearances of the risen Christ (to Mary Magdalene, on the road to Emmaus, and at the Sea of Galilee) (Wikipedia entry). Also , I'd love for you to go thru Memling's so-called Seven Joys of the Virgin, a later title for a Life of the Virgin cycle on a single panel. Altogether 25 scenes, not all involving the Virgin, are depicted. 1480, Alte Pinakothek, Munich (Wikipedia). Thank you and God bless you.
Thank you for the kind words. We've never been to Turin and it's been too long since we visited the Alte Pinakothek in München-thanks for the suggestions.
@@smarthistory-art-history It would be incredibly difficult to come to terms with what had been done. I wouldn't have been able to confront it, either. Thank you for the image. It is spectacular in its complexities on both a human and religious scale.
This series is utterly captivating. I had the privilege of viewing this work in Bruges. This video brings it to life even further for me by emphasizing such vivid details as the scenes of John the Baptist's life carved into the capitals, the position of John the Evangelist's hands as he pauses in his writing, stunned by his vision, and the mystical marriage of St Catherine.
It's such a treat to see this in person and wonderful that it remains in the hospital.
INCREDIBLE oral presentation!….imagine being a patient lying in this chamber resting in the closed presence of this alter piece knowing you are receiving the best care possible …..but then it is opened in all its majesty!
Continue this series of showing sacred art of the middle ages!
What wonderful guides and teachers you are, thank you for yet another gem. Thank you also for your calm and refined voices.
We learn from your videos how Memling is truly an active narrator with his scenes, as his paintings are explained. Thank you for allowing us viewers to enjoy more profundly his masterpieces.
Thanks for the close look & context-- Dr. Koopstra is a great guest host!
We agree, she was wonderful to work with.
I'm obsessed with the paintings of Vittore Carpaccio right now, so it would be great to see a Smarthistory video covering one of his works (for example the Dream of St. Ursula or St. Jerome In His Study)
You might be interested in our essay on Carpaccio's Miracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Rialto Bridge smarthistory.org/carpaccio-miracle-relic-cross/ written by a curator at the Getty.
@@smarthistory-art-history Thanks very much!
So nice you are visiting Flanders!
It was a great trip, the art and architecture is gorgeous. Antwerp and Bruges are wonderful cities.
just breathtaking visually & it’s history … period … artists … hospital .. amazing 💜💜💜💜💜
Such a breathtaking painting; thanks for adding a comment.
Magnificent painting!
Nice explanation and good video ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨
Thank you! ❤❤❤❤❤
The rendition of Salome’s veil is mind boggling. And, as always with Memling the individual faces fascinate me. I am also as entranced by the mythical animals as I was as a child, when apocalyptic paintings were among my favorite because of the strange beasts moving through the paintings.
John the Baptist is my guy! With the exception of Paul, the BAMF-iest of biblical figures, lol.🔥
After flying to NY today(!!!), I could use a St. Jan's myself. What a lovely mission they had in caring for the weary traveler..
As if that wasn't lovely enough, the view of the interior (around 0:54) was just stunning! I wouldn't have expected such an elegant interior, but you can tell each detail was carefully considered.
I felt super immature for wondering where Sean was on the right panel: "There's war, famine, pestilence, and Sean! But you're the most destructive of them all, apparently!"
I needed that laugh. Didn't need to see my mans beheaded quite as much. The stance of the man holding the sword feels very intentional to me - as if he's incapable of facing forward (i.e. walking rightly), so he had to stand askance. Jerk.
This is a beautiful piece, though. I can only imagine how it inspired visitors to this hospital if it's had so many effects on me.
Thank you!
Beautiful and sublime, thank you. What is the meaning of the little snake in the chalice? This is the most mysterious element of the painting to me.
The Cleveland museum has a nice explanation: "According to legend, John the Evangelist was given a cup of poisoned wine that he drank without harm. As emblems of the tale, John’s chalice symbolizes the Christian faith prevailing over death, signified by the serpent."
@@smarthistory-art-history Thank you.
I'm astounded that this elegant and elaborate of a painting was made for a hospital. You mention that it's a truly charitable work. Is this sort of charitable work common? Or would it have been exceedingly unusual for a piece like this to be made for something like a hospital?
Two works come to mind that you might be interested in,
1. Matthias Grünewald's Isenheim Altarpiece made for the Isenheim hospital
smarthistory.org/grunewald-isenheim-altarpiece/
2. Rogier van der Weyden's The Last Judgment for l’Hôtel-Dieu, Beaune, also a hospital
smarthistory.org/rogier-van-der-weyden-the-last-judgment/
It depended on the hospital’s funding, just as it would today.
Gorgeous. Great explanations. Thank you. I'd love to see you go thru Memling's "Scenes from the Passion of Christ," in Turin, showing 23 vignettes of the Life of Christ combined in one narrative composition: 19 episodes from the Passion of Christ, the Resurrection, and three later appearances of the risen Christ (to Mary Magdalene, on the road to Emmaus, and at the Sea of Galilee) (Wikipedia entry). Also , I'd love for you to go thru Memling's so-called Seven Joys of the Virgin, a later title for a Life of the Virgin cycle on a single panel. Altogether 25 scenes, not all involving the Virgin, are depicted. 1480, Alte Pinakothek, Munich (Wikipedia). Thank you and God bless you.
Thank you for the kind words. We've never been to Turin and it's been too long since we visited the Alte Pinakothek in München-thanks for the suggestions.
Salome's eyes seem to be averted...
Mine would be too. You can see her eyes clearly in my photograph on Flickr: flic.kr/p/2pVGdYL
@@smarthistory-art-history It would be incredibly difficult to come to terms with what had been done. I wouldn't have been able to confront it, either. Thank you for the image. It is spectacular in its complexities on both a human and religious scale.