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Hans Memling, Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints (central panel of St. John Altarpiece, with Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine), ca. 1479, Bruges

Painter: Hans Memling (Seligenstadt ca. 1430 -- 1494 Bruges)

Date: signed 'Opus Iohannis Memling 1479'

Original location: created for the high altar of the chapel in St. John's hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal), Bruges

Collection: Bruges: Memlingmuseum-- Sint Janshospitaal

Medium and Size: oil on panel

173.6 x 173.7 cm central panel

Literature: Borchert et al 2005, pp. 27-32

 

Notes: The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine forms the central panel of the Triptych of the Two St. Johns, and celebrates two sacraments-- matrimony and Eucharist. See the entire triptych, including the closed wings, in the set Related Paintings.

 

The closed wings of the panel depict the donors -- two of the hospital's friars, Antheunis Seghers and Jacob Ceuninc, and two nuns, Agnes Casembrood and Clara van Hulsen-- who appear with their name saints, Anthony, James, Agnes and Clare. In Borchert's words" 'The hospital possessed relics of these saints, who were also invoked against a variety of illnesses, both of which circumstances explain their presence on the hospital's high altar.' p. 30.

 

Carpet type: Yellow ground / Star motif

 

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Lauren Arnold, last update 8/19/11

laurenarnold@cs.com

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Uploaded on May 24, 2008
Taken on May 23, 2008