Rog(i)er van der Weyden, also known as Roger de la Pasture, Rogier de Bruxelles, (c. 1400 - June 18, 1464) was a Flemish painter.
Life
He was born at Tournai, where in 1427 he entered the studio of Robert Campin, previously known as the Master of Flemalle.
He established himself in Brussels about 1435. He was in Italy in 1440-1450, but his visit shows no result on his style, which owes nothing to Italian models; and he returned to Brussels, where he died.
Works
Philip the Good, painted c. 1450 by Roger van der Weyden
His vigorous, subtle and expressive painting and popular religious conceptions had considerable influence on the art of Flanders and Germany. His great family portrait in the Ufizzi Gallery in Florence had an important influence on the spread of oil painting into Italy in the late 15th century. He did not study with Jan van Eyck, his older colleague who perfected the art of oil painting during Roger's lifetime. His style differs from van Eyck's in the it's direct emotionality and his sometimes melodramatic composition. But his handling of paint emulates van Eyck's subtle, jewel-like perfection. Unlike other Flemish masters, Roger used little underdrawing for his oil paintings, only blocking out the positions of the major elements in the composition. Hans Memling was his greatest pupil.
His principal paintings were:
- Descent from the Cross (1440), Madrid
- Descent from the Cross (1443), church of Saint-Pierre at Louvain
- triptych (1438-1440), Berlin Museum
- Madonna with Saints (1450), Stadel Institute , Frankfurt
- Last Judgment (1451), hospital of Beaune, France
- portrait of Philip the Good (c. 1456-1458), Antwerp Museum )
- portrait of Charles the Bold (c. 1456-1458), Brussels Museum )
- the Altar-piece of St John, Berlin Museum
- the triptych from Middelburg, Berlin Museum
- Entombment of Christ, National Gallery, London
- Woman Crying, Brussels Museum
- Descent from the Cross, Louvre
- Adoration of the Magi, Old Pinakothek , Munich
- Descent from the Cross, the Hague
- Seven Sacraments, Antwerp Museum
- Descent from the Cross, Brussels Museum
Some of these latter, and others, are only doubtfully attributed to the master. The Crucifixion in the Brussels Museum, assigned either to him or to Memling, and containing portraits of the Sforzas, probably represents Roger van der Weyden in some of the principal figures at least, though Memling may have completed the picture.
There was a younger Roger van der Weyden (c. 1450-1529), to whom a brilliant Mary Magdalen in the National Gallery is attributed.
See also
External link
Last updated: 10-13-2005 12:01:35
