, is that the donors/patrons, the people that commissioned the work were prominently portrayed on the front of the work of art. It immediately puts them in a place of prominence, Why? It's not something I think you see done today, however those that support the arts today are acknowledged publicly usually on the wall at the museum. Maybe this the beginning of the obvious intertwining of art, religion and politics. The piece is intensely religious, yet commissioned by a wealthy merchant. The merchant and his wife were childless and its suggested that this art might insure there "immortality" or salvation through their donation to the church. Also the man Joducus Vijd eventually became the mayor of Ghent with strong ties to the nobility of the time. The relationship between Church, commerce and politics is becoming symbiotic in this period.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Blog 2 Art1B
What Struck me about these altarpieces, is that the donors/patrons, the people that commissioned the work were prominently portrayed on the front of the work of art. It immediately puts them in a place of prominence, Why? It's not something I think you see done today, however those that support the arts today are acknowledged publicly usually on the wall at the museum. Maybe this the beginning of the obvious intertwining of art, religion and politics. The piece is intensely religious, yet commissioned by a wealthy merchant. The merchant and his wife were childless and its suggested that this art might insure there "immortality" or salvation through their donation to the church. Also the man Joducus Vijd eventually became the mayor of Ghent with strong ties to the nobility of the time. The relationship between Church, commerce and politics is becoming symbiotic in this period.
, is that the donors/patrons, the people that commissioned the work were prominently portrayed on the front of the work of art. It immediately puts them in a place of prominence, Why? It's not something I think you see done today, however those that support the arts today are acknowledged publicly usually on the wall at the museum. Maybe this the beginning of the obvious intertwining of art, religion and politics. The piece is intensely religious, yet commissioned by a wealthy merchant. The merchant and his wife were childless and its suggested that this art might insure there "immortality" or salvation through their donation to the church. Also the man Joducus Vijd eventually became the mayor of Ghent with strong ties to the nobility of the time. The relationship between Church, commerce and politics is becoming symbiotic in this period.
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I like your thinking on this.. it reminds me of the tags attached to the end of the NPR broadcasts where the "XYZ Endowment for the arts.. trust..ect" is acknowledged for their pledge to bring the programming to NPR every day... They are the "Patrons in the corners.."!
ReplyDeleteKimberlie
I think religion and politics have been entertwined since time immemorial and art has been the propaganda. This is partly why I love non-representational art!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you. I like the way that you explained how prominence and authority are still around today, even though they are more subtle.
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