The Morrison Triptych
Encyclopedia
.
The Master of the Morrison Triptych is the name given to an unknown Early Netherlandish painter active in Antwerp around 1500-1510. He is named for the Morrison Triptych, now in Toledo, Ohio
, which is described below.
The same master is attributed an Adoration of the Magi with donor portrait, in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
, c. 1504, probably the side-wing of another triptych. It is dateable by the stage of progress reached in the construction of the new tower of Antwerp Cathedral in the background, a typical exhibition of civic pride. A triptych in the National Gallery, London
(NG 1085) has been suggested as another work by the artist.
In Lisbon
's Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga there is yet another triptych believed to have been painted by this master with the Virgin Christa and Angels, and with St John the Baptist and St john the Evangelist in the side panels.
in triptych
or three-paneled form, by the master and probably painted around 1500. The work is named for an earlier owner, the British collector Alfred Morrison, and is now in the Toledo Museum of Art
in Toledo, Ohio
. The painting is not to be confused with a modern work of the same name celebrating Jim Morrison
of The Doors
.
The work loosely repeats the composition of an earlier triptych, now in Vienna
(the St John Altarpiece), by Hans Memling
, with addition of the lute-playing angel. The new composition in turn was copied by Joos van Cleve
in another altarpiece - such borrowings being very common in Early Netherlandish art. The external panels are decorated with paintings intended to appear as sculpture depicting Adam and Eve
, characters from the Old Testament
. These “painted sculptures” of Adam and Eve cast shadows to their proper left and the front panel is painted to appear to reflect a candle that would be placed on the altar in front of this altarpiece. The pedestals in which the “sculptures” stand protrude toward the viewer, appearing three-dimensional and including the viewer in their realm.
The panels open to reveal a landscape in the background and in the central panel an image of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child and angels, central figures of the Christian religion. Connecting the three scenes of the inner view are not only the floor tiles, blue sky and continuous landscape but also the repetition of the architectural arch motif and the balustrade with tracery at the top of the image.
Although the design is continuous, the characters depicted on the inner left and right hand panels are not quite in the same picture space as the central group, though they share the architectural setting. This is because, most unusually, the side-panels are unframed, and there is a frame around the central panel.
with his attribute of a lamb and on the inner right hand panel John the Evangelist
with his of a chalice
. The columns in the center image also host portrayals of figures painted as if sculpture on the capitals: on the left a man with a sword raised to decapitate a character and another man above the capital on the right column a character who has just decapitated the head of a character. These images are depicting sacrifice: Abraham
being stopped by an angel before sacrificing his only son Jacob on the left and on the right, Jephthah (“the fool”) who sacrificed his daughter because of a promise to sacrifice the first person he saw when he returned to his city, despite being saddened to be greeted by his own daughter upon that return. “Sacrifice and Salvation” are portrayed by the open prospect of the triptych.
The Master of the Morrison Triptych is the name given to an unknown Early Netherlandish painter active in Antwerp around 1500-1510. He is named for the Morrison Triptych, now in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, which is described below.
The same master is attributed an Adoration of the Magi with donor portrait, in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
, c. 1504, probably the side-wing of another triptych. It is dateable by the stage of progress reached in the construction of the new tower of Antwerp Cathedral in the background, a typical exhibition of civic pride. A triptych in the National Gallery, London
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media...
(NG 1085) has been suggested as another work by the artist.
In Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
's Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga there is yet another triptych believed to have been painted by this master with the Virgin Christa and Angels, and with St John the Baptist and St john the Evangelist in the side panels.
The Morrison Triptych
The Morrison Triptych is an altarpieceAltarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
in triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
or three-paneled form, by the master and probably painted around 1500. The work is named for an earlier owner, the British collector Alfred Morrison, and is now in the Toledo Museum of Art
Toledo Museum of Art
The Toledo Museum of Art is an internationally known art museum located in the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio, United States. The museum was founded by Toledo glassmaker Edward Drummond Libbey in 1901, and moved to its present location, a Greek revival building designed by Edward B....
in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. The painting is not to be confused with a modern work of the same name celebrating Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
.
The work loosely repeats the composition of an earlier triptych, now in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(the St John Altarpiece), by Hans Memling
Hans Memling
Hans Memling was a German-born Early Netherlandish painter.-Life and works:Born in Seligenstadt, near Frankfurt in the Middle Rhein region, it is believed that Memling served his apprenticeship at Mainz or Cologne, and later worked in the Netherlands under Rogier van der Weyden...
, with addition of the lute-playing angel. The new composition in turn was copied by Joos van Cleve
Joos van Cleve
Joos van Cleve was a painter active in Antwerp around 1511 to 1540. He was born around 1485 and died in between 1540 and 1541...
in another altarpiece - such borrowings being very common in Early Netherlandish art. The external panels are decorated with paintings intended to appear as sculpture depicting Adam and Eve
Eve
Eve is the first woman created by God in the Book of Genesis.Eve may also refer to:-People:*Eve , a common given name and surname*Eve , American recording artist and actress-Places:...
, characters from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
. These “painted sculptures” of Adam and Eve cast shadows to their proper left and the front panel is painted to appear to reflect a candle that would be placed on the altar in front of this altarpiece. The pedestals in which the “sculptures” stand protrude toward the viewer, appearing three-dimensional and including the viewer in their realm.
The panels open to reveal a landscape in the background and in the central panel an image of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child and angels, central figures of the Christian religion. Connecting the three scenes of the inner view are not only the floor tiles, blue sky and continuous landscape but also the repetition of the architectural arch motif and the balustrade with tracery at the top of the image.
Although the design is continuous, the characters depicted on the inner left and right hand panels are not quite in the same picture space as the central group, though they share the architectural setting. This is because, most unusually, the side-panels are unframed, and there is a frame around the central panel.
Iconography
When the triptych panels are closed Adam and Eve, subjects of “The Original Sin” are portrayed on the outer left hand (Adam) and right hand (Eve) panels of the triptych. When the triptych panels are opened images immediately recognizable to anyone viewing this in the 16th century showing the enthroned Virgin Mary accompanied with the Christ child and two angels. On the inner left hand panel John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
with his attribute of a lamb and on the inner right hand panel John the Evangelist
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
with his of a chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
. The columns in the center image also host portrayals of figures painted as if sculpture on the capitals: on the left a man with a sword raised to decapitate a character and another man above the capital on the right column a character who has just decapitated the head of a character. These images are depicting sacrifice: Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
being stopped by an angel before sacrificing his only son Jacob on the left and on the right, Jephthah (“the fool”) who sacrificed his daughter because of a promise to sacrifice the first person he saw when he returned to his city, despite being saddened to be greeted by his own daughter upon that return. “Sacrifice and Salvation” are portrayed by the open prospect of the triptych.
Sources
- Robinson, Nancy; Toledo Museum of Art docent class of 2007 detail captured from lecture Larry Nichols, Curator from The Toledo Museum of ArtToledo Museum of ArtThe Toledo Museum of Art is an internationally known art museum located in the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio, United States. The museum was founded by Toledo glassmaker Edward Drummond Libbey in 1901, and moved to its present location, a Greek revival building designed by Edward B....
- January 2008