Parement de Narbonne

before 1378

India ink on silk

unknown 14th century French artist

- grisaile: grey tones make figures look like stone statues

- would have been placed on an altar

- "K" medallions- symbol of patron, Charles V (he and wife shown)

- scenes of Kiss of Judas, Flagellation, Carrying of the Cross, Crucifxion, Lamentation, Descent into Limbo, Noli me Tangere

-gothic elements in fictive architecture

- individualization of king and queen's features- typical of Int'l style

- 

Goldenes Roussel

c. 1400

gold + enamel

unknown craftsman

-given to Charles VI by Queen Isabeau of Bavaria

- "joyaux"- private royal luxury object

- Mary + Jesus seated in a bower with angels. Infant forms of St. Catherine, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist

- Charles VI identifiable by the fleur de lis on his cape and his sweet pet tiger

- bottom portion: King's page holds his white horse while the king prays

King Arthur Tapestry- from the Scenes of the 9 Worthies

Nicolas Bataille

c. 1385

wool

-scenes show allegories of good rulers: Joshua, King David, Solomon, Caesar..

- gothic architectural elements- trefoils, spired arches

- not especially large for a tapestry at that time

The Annunciation, from The Belles Heures du Duc de Berry

Limbourg Brotheres

c. 1410

ink, tempera, and gold leaf on vellum

- Gabriel approaches with lily fronds, a symbol of Mary's purity, to tell her she's pregnant

- God in a tiny gazebo in the sky

- marginal images: bear and swan, musical angels, fleur-de-lis pattern

- deep blue color achieved with ultramarine paint made from lapis lazuli

- anxiety about leaving any blank space on the page ("the horror of the vacui")

The Fall of Man and the Expulsion (from the Tres Riches Heures)

Limbourg  Brothers

before 1416

ink, gold leaf, and tempera on vellum

-books of hours provide a more intimate experience than a painting

- the Tres Riches Heures were unfinished- Bros. probably died while working on it

- images read left to right to tell a story

- Eve appears as a temptress, almost forcing Adam to eat the apple. Typical of the time.

- God counting the sins of Adam and Eve on his fingers

- angel expelling Adam and Eve is the fiery, 6-winged, scary Biblical kind

- the blank space of the page outside of the "paradise" section symbolizes the barrenness of the outside world

- figures are large compared to their setting. They dominate the landscape

January page from the Tres Riches Heures

Super Limbourg Bros.

before 1416

ink, gold leaf, tempera on vellum

-Zodaic and moon phase calendar at top= "lunette" Zodiac signs: Capricorn and Aquarius

- Feast scene. Duc de Berry in midground with fur cap and fleur-de-lis robe. Behind him is a firescreen that suggests the shape of a halo

- text on the left of the duke says "Approach"

- bear and swan = symbols of the duke

- puppies on the table were his pets, they gradually grow in each calendar page

- rich palette- deep red, ultramarine, vert de flamb

- men in background with horses- not really interacting with the scene. Are they just there to suggest depth of field?

July page from the Tres Riches Heures

Limbourg Brothers

before 1416

ink, tempera, and gold leaf on vellum

-Zodiac signs in lunette: Cancer and Leo

- peasant scene shows actions appropriate for the month of July: shearing sheep, cutting wheat

- building in background: Duc de Berry's Chateau de Chain in Poitiers

- relative figure sizes and use of highlights suggest depth of field

- peasants working shows that the kingdom is at peace, reflects well on the duke

- faces are not distinct- peasants are anonymous

Madonna and Child on the trumeau

Claus Sluter and shop

1385-93

stone

-gothic architectural decoration

- fabric draping shows "gothic sway"

- deeply carved lines in fabric create dramatic light and shadow

- appears older and more stern than other Madonnas of the time

- Phillip the Bold of Burgundy and his wife praying in alcoves next to the Virgin

The Well of Moses

Claus Sluter and shop

1395-1406

stone

-at top of 11-foot-deep well

-made for Phillip the Bold's son, John the Fearless

- used to have a cavalry scene at top with Mary and the saints on horseback

- the 6 figures on the well are men of the old Testament. Each carries his attribute and a scroll predicting the death of Christ

- shows Moses just after he recieves 10 commandments

- figures once had paint on them. Painter- Jean Malouel

- crucified Christ at top of well

Fragment of Crucified Christ from the Well of Moses

Claus Sluter and shop

1395-1406

stone

see: Well of Moses

Central Relief of the Retable de Champmol

Jacques de Baerze

before 1399

oil on panel

- scenes: Adoration of the Magi, Crucifixion, Entombment

Outer wings of the Retable de Champmol

Melchior Broederlam

before 1399

oil on panel

-scenes: Annunciation, Visitation, Flight to Egypt

- Mary identifiable by blue cloak. She looks put-together compared to Joseph, who appears more "rustic"

- shows a "hortus conclusis" (closed garden)- symbol of Mary's purity. Inspired by the Song of Solomon

- Gothic and Romanesque buildings stand for New and Old Testaments

-figures not quite to scale with their surroundings