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Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464)
Flanders, c. 1435-37
Tempera and oil (?) on wood
H. 21.2 / 21.7 x W. 18.5 cm; H. 20.7 / 21 x W. 18.5 cm
Inv. 79A and 79B
Both these fragments were part of an altarpiece, including Magdalen reading (The National Gallery, London), which was dismantled for unknown reasons. This painting, originally a Sacra Conversazione, is believed to have been one of the finest examples of Rogier van der Weyden’s first individual work.
It has been suggested that the female figure is St. Catherine of Alexandria, as her rich attire matches the traditional association. Moreover, the image reveals the harmonious colours that are characteristic of this artist’s work. The other fragment shows the figure of St. Joseph with an expressive power that is rarely found in contemporary imagery. The Gothic architecture in the middle ground is painted in neutral colours and helps create the perspective.
The luminous and accurately depicted landscape in the background creates depth and suggests a sense of a real environment in both panels, adopting the innovative artistic concept developed by fifteenth-century Flemish masters.
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