Artwork

Bernard van Orley. Triptiek met de deugd van het Geduld Centraal paneel: Het feestmaal van Jobs kinderen, detail rechts boven

Bernard van Orley. Triptiek met de deugd van het Geduld Centraal paneel: Het feestmaal van Jobs kinderen, detail rechts boven, by Bernard Van Orley, unspecified
Bernard van Orley. Triptiek met de deugd van het Geduld Centraal paneel: Het feestmaal van Jobs kinderen, detail rechts boven, by Bernard Van Orley, unspecified

Bernard van Orley. Triptiek met de deugd van het Geduld Centraal paneel: Het feestmaal van Jobs kinderen, detail rechts boven is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Bernard Van Orley. It is held in the collection of the Catholic University of Leuven.

About this work

Overview

The Triptiek met de deugd van het Geduld (Triptych of the Virtue of Patience) central panel, 'Het feestmaal van Jobs kinderen' (The Feast of Job's Children), is a 16th-century Northern Renaissance painting by Bernard van Orley. Executed around 1521 in oil on panel, it is housed at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.

Subject & Meaning

The central panel depicts a lavish feast of Job's children, contrasting worldly luxury with the virtue of patience. Figures in elaborate attire gather around a table, while a man in green observes from a doorway, and a dog sleeps beneath. Symbolic details, such as a parrot on a perch, enrich the allegorical scene.

Technique & Style

Van Orley's work showcases Northern Renaissance characteristics through vibrant colors and meticulous attention to detail, evident in the folds of clothing and the play of light on silver cups. The composition reflects his experience collaborating with tapestry weavers, though distinct from the calm, crowded scenes of contemporaries like Hans Memling.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1521, the triptych's central panel is part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium's collection (inventory number 1822). Historical documentation of its early provenance is limited, with the piece entering the museum's records by the 19th century.

Context

This painting represents the Northern Renaissance's blend of religious allegory and detailed realism. Van Orley's style, influenced by his work with tapestry designers, contributes to the era's artistic landscape.

Legacy

As a key work by Bernard van Orley, 'The Feast of Job's Children' continues to be studied for its insights into Northern Renaissance techniques, allegorical themes, and the artist's unique blend of painting and tapestry design influences.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Bernard Van Orley

Artist

Bernard Van Orley

Bernard van Orley (between 1487 and 1491 – 6 January 1541), also called Barend or Barent van Orley, Bernaert van Orley or Barend van Brussel, was a versatile Flemish artist and representative of Dutch and Flemish…