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Hans Memlin Triptych at Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges, Belgium

Altar piece of John the Evangelist and John the Baptist. Hans Memling (c. 1430 - 1494) was commissioned to paint this triptych by the monastic community of the St John's Hospital. On the outside of the wings are the portraits of the donors--two monks and two nuns who held important offices in the foundation and who paid for this work. Depicted in the center of the panel is a 'Sacra conversazione', a gathering of saints and angels around the Virgin and Child. Both St. Barbara, who sits just in front of her tower, and St. Catherine, identified by her wheel, are closely associated with the monastic life. Flanking the Virgin are the hospital's patron saints: John the Baptist with the Lamb and John the Evangelist with the chalice. Old St. John's Hospital is one of Europe's oldest surviving hospital buildings that dates to the 11th century. It originally treated sick pilgrims and travelers. A monastery and convent was later added. It is now a museum.

Filename
Hans Memlin Triptych at Old St. John's Hospital, Bruges, Belgium (0820323112735).tif
Copyright
© 2014 David Coleman. All rights reserved.
Image Size
7119x4751 / 47.0MB
Contained in galleries
Altar piece of John the Evangelist and John the Baptist. Hans Memling (c. 1430 - 1494) was commissioned to paint this triptych by the monastic community of the St John's Hospital. On the outside of the wings are the portraits of the donors--two monks and two nuns who held important offices in the foundation and who paid for this work. Depicted in the center of the panel is a 'Sacra conversazione', a gathering of saints and angels around the Virgin and Child. Both St. Barbara, who sits just in front of her tower, and St. Catherine, identified by her wheel, are closely associated with the monastic life. Flanking the Virgin are the hospital's patron saints: John the Baptist with the Lamb and John the Evangelist with the chalice. Old St. John's Hospital is one of Europe's oldest surviving hospital buildings that dates to the 11th century. It originally treated sick pilgrims and travelers. A monastery and convent was later added. It is now a museum.