Petrus Christus: Renaissance Master of Bruges. by Maryan W. AINSWORTH (1994-05-03)

New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1994. — 246 p. — ISBN-0-87099-694-0This study is an important new account of the life and work of the Flemish master Petrus Christus. It is the first volume to focus specifically on the physical characteristics of his works as criteria for judging attribution, dating, and the extent to which he was indebted to Jan van Eyck and other artists for the development of his technique and style. The author's aim is to examine how certain works were made in order to solve some rather traditional questions of connoisseurship.Recent technical and archival investigations, the result of which are published here together for the first time, form the basis of a sophisticated reassessment of Christus. His relationship with van Eyck's workshop is explored. There is a careful description of his working methods, including his use of underdrawings and his exploration perspective. The results of dendrochronological analyses of many of his panels are also given.As important as this technical and art-historical evaluation is the social and biographical background that is provided. Christus is placed in the context of fifteenth-century Bruges, a wealthy and powerful city under the rule of the dukes of Burgundy. Its status as a ducal seat fostered a lively cultural life, and patrons for artistic undertakings were also found in the relatively large number of well-to-do citizens and foreign merchants who lived there. The economic, social, and political forces that affected Bruges are described, as is their impact on the city's community of artists, which included Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. Throughout, the authors draw on archival documents relating to citizenship, public celebrations, contracts, and confraternities to describe artistic activity in Bruges and to construct Christus's cultural biography.This publication accompanies the most important exhibition of early Netherlandish paintings in the United States in more than three decades. Each of the twenty-seven works is discussed in an extended entry with a complete provenance, and a selected bibliography is provided.The authors of this major study of Petrus Christus are Maryan W. Ainsworth, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Paintings Conservation, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Maximiliaan P. J. Martens, Associate Professor, History of Medieval Art, University of Groningen. This Study Is An Important New Account Of The Life And Work Of The Flemish Master Petrus Christus. It Is The First Volume To Focus Specifically On The Physical Characteristics Of His Works As Criteria For Judging Attribution, Dating, And The Extent To Which He Was Indebted To Jan Van Eyck And Other Artists For The Development Of His Technique And Style. The Author's Aim Is To Examine How Certain Works Were Made In Order To Solve Some Rather Traditional Questions Of Connoisseurship. Recent Technical And Archival Investigations, The Results Of Which Are Published Here Together For The First Time, Form The Basis Of A Sophisticated Reassessment Of Christus. His Relationship With Van Eyck's Workshop Is Explored. There Is A Careful Description Of His Working Methods, Including His Use Of Underdrawings And His Exploration Of Perspective. The Results Of Dendrochronological Analyses Of Many Of His Panels Are Also Given. As Important As This Technical And Art-historical Evaluation Is The Social And Biographical Background That Is Provided. Christus Is Placed In The Context Of Fifteenth-century Bruges, A Wealthy And Powerful City Under The Rule Of The Dukes Of Burgundy. Its Status As A Ducal Seat Fostered A Lively Cultural Life, And Patrons For Artistic Undertakings Were Also Found In The Relatively Large Number Of Well-to-do Citizens And Foreign Merchants Who Lived There. The Economic, Social, And Political Forces That Affected Bruges Are Described, As Is Their Impact On The City's Community Of Artists, Which Included Jan Van Eyck And Hans Memling. Bruges During Petrus Christus's Lifetime / Maximiliaan P.j. Martens -- Petrus Christus: A Cultural Biography / Maximiliaan P.j. Martens -- The Art Of Petrus Christus / Maryan W. Ainsworth -- Catalogue / Maryan W. Ainsworth -- Appendix 1: Archival Documents And Literary Sources / Edited By Maximiliaan P.j. Martens -- Appendix 2: Dendrochronological Analysis Of Panels Attributed To Petrus Christus / Peter Klein. Maryan W. Ainsworth, With Contributions By Maximiliaan P.j. Martens. Catalog Of An Exhibition Held At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York, From April 14 To July 31, 1994. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 217-226) And Index. "This study is an important new account of the life and work of the Flemish master Petrus Christus. It is the first volume to focus specifically on the physical characteristics of his works as criteria for judging attribution, dating, and the extent to which he was indebted to Jan van Eyck and other artists for the development of his technique and style. The author's aim is to examine how certain works were made in order to solve some rather traditional questions of connoisseurship." "Recent technical and archival investigations, the results of which are published here together for the first time, form the basis of a sophisticated reassessment of Christus. His relationship with van Eyck's workshop is explored. There is a careful description of his working methods, including his use of underdrawings and his exploration of perspective. The results of dendrochronological analyses of many of his panels are also given." "As important as this technical and art-historical evaluation is the social and biographical background that is provided. Christus is placed in the context of fifteenth-century Bruges, a wealthy and powerful city under the rule of the dukes of Burgundy. its status as a ducal seat fostered a lively cultural life, and patrons for artistic undertakings were also found in the relatively large number of well-to-do citizens and foreign merchants who lived there. The economic, social, and political forces that affected Bruges are described, as is their impact on the city's community of artists, which included Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling."--BOOK JACKET Frontispiece Contents Director’s foreword Acknowledgments Petrus Christus. Renaissance master of Bruges Bruges during Petrus Christus’ lifetime Petrus Christus: A cultural biography The art of Petrus Christus Catalogue 1. Workshop of Jan van Eyck: Saint Jerome in his study 2. Jan van Eyck and workshop: Virgin and Child with Saints Barbara and Elizabeth and Jan Vos 3. Attributed to Petrus Christus: Saint John the Baptist in a landscape 4. Head of Christ (Ecce Homo) 5. Portrait of a Carthusian 6. Saint Eligius 7. Virgin and Child with Saint Barbara and Jan Vos (Exeter Madonna) 8. Lamentation 9. Christ as the Man of Sorrows 10. Attributed to Petrus Christus: Annunciation 11. Virgin and Child in an archway 12. Portrait of a male donor. Portrait of a female donor 13. Madonna enthroned with Saints Jerome and Francis 14. Virgin and Child enthroned on a porch 15. Death of the Virgin 16. Portrait of a man 17. Nativity 18. Madonna of the dry tree 19. Portrait of a lady 20. Holy Family in a domestic interior 21. Trinity 22. Madonna and Child with a donor (copy of the Maelbeke Madonna) 23. Portrait of a young woman 24. Portrait of a man with a falcon 25. Attributed to Petrus Christus: Portrait of a woman 26. Follower of Petrus Christus: Two female heads Appendix 1. Archival documents and literary sources Appendix 2. Dendrochronological analysis of panels attributed to Petrus Christus Selected bibliography Index Photograph credits This Study Is An Account Of The Life And Work Of The 15th-century Flemish Master, Petrus Christus. It Offers An Examination Of The Physical Characteristics Of His Paintings, And Also Places The Artist In The Context Of The City Of Bruges, Where He Lived And Worked.