131 Res – Page 2 – Talia Rouck

Robert Campin (1375-1444) led one of the most mysterious and intriguing careers as a painter in the Early Renaissance, one that is still debated today. Labelled as one of the most talented artists of his time, Campin was highly successful and created many breathtaking pieces of art. However no work was signed or dated, leading to great speculation between Campin and “The Master of Flemalle,” an unidentified painter responsible for ornate panels that were monumental in their skill of perspective, observation, and composition. Campin primarily painted Biblical subjects, as well as private commissions. He is credited to being a main innovator in the Flemish shift between Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Getty Museum summarizes his contributions, writing “Campin humanized subject matter, breaking with the aristocratic taste and romantic mood of the ornamental International style to portray the Annunciation taking place in a contemporary middle-class Tournai home. The sculptural solidity and naturalistic detail of his style show sculptor Claus Sluter’s influence. Campin’s influence, mediated through his pupil Rogier van der Weyden, was widespread.”

*Madonna and Child (1430), Saint Veronica Displaying the Sudarium (1430), Trinity of the Broken Body (1410).* Pictured here are the mystery panels of “The Master of Flamelle.” One can easily observe the masterful rendering of the subjects, the innovative composition and acute attention to detail.

I chose Campin because of the mystery of his personality and how clearly his work stands out from the other artists of the time. It is intensely realistic, painful and beautiful. Additionally, the backgrounds intrigued me almost as much as the piece itself. I feel like it is something rarely seen in the time of the early renaissance, where you have a steady, close background with a repeated pattern. Each background, whether it be a complex scene or a simple pattern, compliments the subject of the photo with realistic simplicity and depth. Campins work features a deep understanding of textures, expression, and form. He uses dramatic shadows and rich, vibrant colors to compliment a neutral background that would otherwise take away from the subject. This is excellently displayed in his work Virgin and Child before a firescreen, where the warmth and seemingly critical affection of the Madonna while she breastfeeds her child is highlighted by the excellent depiction of her pale skirt, as well as the cool backdrop.

Here we see the Virgin and Christ, a quiet and enclosed scene. The expert rendering of her skirt is neatly juxtaposed against the warm background, with the attention being drawn to the only exposed skin on the painting with its distinct separated warmth. The Virgins cheeks are round and healthy, while Christ is twisting and posed, a definite influence of the Gothic Era.

Again in this piece we experience Campins excellent depiction of reality. Both in the face, the colouring and texture, and the folding of the fabric. Campin was not susceptible to the “idealization” of his subjects. He painted them as they were.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Campin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Campin

Getty Museum Robert Campin: http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/3536/robert-campin-netherlandish-about-1375-1444/