Having shared a favorite masterpiece depicting The Annunciation in my Holiday Greetings post (sent on Christmas Day), I’m thrilled to be reminded about another version.
My dear friend Dellie Johnson, whom I’ve known longer than either of us wishes to remember, sent this, with a charming note:
Loved the piece on the Ghent Altarpiece. It reminded me of how much I admire Flemish art with all its exquisite details. I always loved the Méroud Altarpiece of the Annunciation and giggled when I noticed the tiny baby Jesus coming through one of the windows on a beam of light carrying a cross.
Workshop of Robert Campin Netherlandish ca. 1427–32
The Met Cloisters, New York
Let’s have a description from The Cloisters, where the triptych hangs in Gallery 19.
Having just entered the room, the angel Gabriel is about to tell the Virgin Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus. The golden rays pouring in through the left oculus carry a miniature figure with a cross. On the right wing, Joseph, who is betrothed to the Virgin, works in his carpenter’s shop, drilling holes in a board. The mousetraps on the bench and in the shop window opening onto the street are thought to allude to references in the writings of Saint Augustine identifying the cross as the devil’s mousetrap. On the left wing, the kneeling donor appears to witness the central scene through the open door. His wife kneels behind him, and a town messenger stands at the garden gate. The owners would have purchased the triptych to use in private prayer. An image of Christ’s conception in an interior not unlike the one in which they lived also may have reinforced their hope for their own children.
One of the most celebrated early Netherlandish paintings—particularly for its detailed observation, rich imagery, and superb condition—this triptych belongs to a group of paintings associated with the Tournai workshop of Robert Campin (ca. 1375–1444), sometimes called the Master of Flémalle. Documents indicate that he hired at least two assistants, the young Rogier van der Weyden (ca. 1400–1464) and Jacques Daret (ca. 1404–1468). Stylistic and technical evidence suggests that the altarpiece was executed in phases. The Annunciation, which follows a slightly earlier workshop composition, probably was not commissioned. Shortly thereafter, the male donor ordered the wings, which appear to have been painted by two artists. At a later point, in the 1430s, presumably following the donor’s marriage, the portraits of his wife and of the messenger were added. The windows of the central panel, originally covered with gold leaf, were painted with a blue sky, and the armorial shields were added afterward.
Now, on New Year’s Day, and with special thanks to Dellie, I’m very happy to share this beautiful work of art. I send along my and Andrew’s own special wish that the new year will bring peace to world, the end of our current wars, and love to all of us, wherever we happen to live in our divided society.