Artwork
Side wings of the Norfolk Triptych: portraits of donors
Side wings of the Norfolk Triptych: portraits of donors is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan Gossaert. It dates from 1527 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
The Side wings of the Norfolk Triptych is a diptych oil painting created by Jan Gossaert in 1527. It features two portraits of donors, a man and a woman, set against a dark background.
Subject & Meaning
The diptych depicts a man and woman, likely the donors of a triptych altarpiece, in contemplative poses with books and devotional gestures. The man's hands are clasped together, while the woman's are folded in prayer, conveying a sense of piety and reverence.
Technique & Style
Gossaert's style blends Italian Renaissance influences with northern European traditions, characteristic of Romanism. The detailed rendering of the subjects' faces and clothing, set against a dark background, creates a somber and introspective atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The diptych is part of the Norfolk Triptych, now held in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. Gossaert, active in the early 16th century, was among the first northern artists to travel to Italy, absorbing influences that shaped his work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Gossaert (c. 1478 – 1 October 1532) was a French-speaking painter from the Low Countries also known as Jan Mabuse (the name he adopted from his birthplace, Maubeuge) or Jennyn van Hennegouwe (Hainaut), as he called…
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Continue through works from the same source collection.
Triptych with Donors
Two Wings of a Triptych with Portraits of Donors with Saints Adrian and John the Baptist
Two donors (interior right wing)
Two donors from a wing of an altarpiece
Three Donors
Two Wings of a Triptych with the Donor, Thomas Isaacq, accompanied by Saint Thomas (left, outer wing), and the Donor's Wife accompanied by Saint Margaret (right, outer wing)
Portrait of a Female Donor