As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m reading through 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, by Stephen Farthing so I can learn about the great works of art. When I happen upon a work that sparks my interest for any reason, I’ll look for more information and, if I’m still interested, write a blog post. I made it through the first 43 paintings in the book, and almost out of the 1300’s before I found one that qualified.
A diptych is a painting that covers two panels, usually hinged like a book. In many cases, they were used as portable altars that could be carried about and opened to create a suitable place to worship. The Wilton Diptych shows King Richard II of England being presented to Mary and the infant Jesus. (You can click on it to get a larger view.) The painting is done in the International Gothic style, and it is thought that the unknown artist was probably French.
The panel on the left shows Richard kneeling in a forest on earth. The three men behind him are (left to right), Edmund the Martyr (holding the Danish arrow with which he was killed), Edward the Confessor (holding a ring) and John the Baptist (holding a lamb). Richard wears his personal emblem, a white stag, around his neck. Other stags, and seed pods (the symbol of France) can be seen on his robe.
The panel on the right shows Mary holding baby Jesus in a garden in heaven. They are surrounded by angels, all of whom also wear Richard’s white stag emblem. One angel holds the banner of St. George.
Farthing writes, “The diptych emphasized the sanctity bestowed on the monarch by God, but also provided a salutary warning against the vanity of kings.”
Richard was born in 1367 and became king in 1377, when he was 10. As he grew in years, he also grew in arrogance and love of wealth. He picked his close friends as his advisors, which naturally angered those who thought they should have some influence. An uprising against Richard in 1388 resulted in his loss of any real power and the death or exile of his followers. In time, he gained his power back, but he hadn’t learned his lesson and soon claimed absolute authority in the kingdom. Henry of Bolingbroke, with a large force of his own, captured Richard and forced him to abdicate. Henry became the next king, Henry IV. Richard was imprisoned and died early in 1400, when he was only 33 years old — which should give us some idea of how effective the diptych was.
From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, the painting doesn’t move me much, although, in my opinion, it is one of the first in the book that appears to have been painted by somebody who knew how to paint. I guess what I find most fascinating about it is the massive amount of extra-biblical “fiction” that had crept into the church at that time — the “sainthood” of men, the exaltation of John the Baptist and Mary, the angels as “royal retainers,” the perpetual babyhood of Jesus. I can’t help wondering if Richard had, or thought about, the diptych while he was dying in prison.
What do you think of it, from the standpoint of art or of history?
If morality is used to judge art, would these paintings be good art or bad art?
I’m kind of cranky right now, about having to go to work tomorrow after the long weekend. So, some of what I’m feeling about this piece might be reflecting that negative mood. But I guess this is one of those pieces that makes me think, “why has society even wanted to hold onto something like this for so long”? It just seems like there’s nothing to gain from studying it.
It doesn’t tell any truth. I mean, John the Baptist introducing a king to baby Jesus? What’s that about? I guess we could look at it and say, “wow can you believe how pious he was? What an idiot”. But we still have a lot of that going on, in government and in the church. So it’s not like we can look back on this piece and say that society has evolved past that.
I just don’t see the point. Sorry. I’m gonna go to bed now and hope that I wake up with a better attitude.
Siri — from a theological standpoint, I’d have to say it’s very bad art.
Nate — I agree with you about the worth of the painting. And I also agree that society is just as messed-up these days. But I find it interesting to get a glimpse into the mindset of people in the past, and this painting allows me to do that.