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Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Mystery Surrounds This Rare Altarpiece
Art experts remain baffled by a 16th-century altarpiece titled 'The Virgin and Child With Saints Louis and Margaret.' The National Gallery, London recently acquired the devotional work for 16.4 million pounds (around $21.7 million). The American Friends of the National Gallery, London helped fund the acquisition. Members of the public will be able to view the altarpiece for the first time in over 60 years, when the gallery displays it starting May 10. They'll also learn some of the surprising elements in the work that explain why its artist remains a mystery. 'The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret,' circa 1510, by an unknown Netherlandish or French painter. Oil on oak wood; 48 1/8 inches by 41 5/8 inches. Bought with the support of the American Friends of the National Gallery, London, 2025. National Gallery, London. Copyright The National Gallery, London The Altarpiece The artist rendered an open-air chapel, with the king of France St. Louis, St. Margaret, and two angel musicians flanking the enthroned Virgin and Christ. The Virgin is full of grace. She's dressed in red, symbolic of her humility and earthly presence. She gently holds a flower between her thumb and forefinger. Christ sits on her lap, toying with a goldfinch, a common pet in medieval times and an art motif symbolizing the goldfinch that plucked a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns at Calvary. St. Louis appears lifelike; it could almost be his portrait. He wears blue robes embroidered with gold fleur-de-lis emblems and the collar of the Order of St. Michael, a French dynastic order of chivalry. The pious St. Margaret ascends from the stomach of the dragon, which swallowed her. Both her poise and opulent gown belies her terrifying ordeal. She holds a jewel-encrusted cross, perhaps symbolizing her faith and the sign of the cross she made that allowed her miraculous escape. Related Stories 4/2/2020 5/25/2023 The angel beside plays the mouth harp, the other holds a hymn book open at 'Ave regina caelorum, Mater regis angelorum' ('Hail, queen of heaven, Mother of the king of angels.') The painter rendered artistic rather than accurate musical notations for the score. Delightful and Peculiar Details The artist deftly rendered exquisite details: the double knots in St. Louis's chain, the gems on St. Margaret's cross, and the sunlight sweeping across her cheek. He also included unusual elements. The figures on St. Louis's spectre may symbolize the Last Judgment, an odd theme for metalwork at the time. St. Margaret's sequined hairnet, her daisy crown, and the bird are all unusual. The bird could refer to the bird that descended from heaven to crown Margaret in 'The Golden Legend,' a collection of 153 hagiographies (biographies of saints) written by Italian chronicler and archbishop of Genoa Jacobus de Voragine between 1250 and 1280. Of course, the altarpiece abounds with biblical references. Carved into the capitals of the open-air chapel are episodes from the Old Testament: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, The Grapes of Canaan, and The Drunkenness of Noah. Of particular interest are the stark wooden steps and nailheads that lead to the enthroned Virgin and Child; they may symbolize Christ's crucifixion. According to the gallery, 'No other example of such imagery is known to survive.' Understanding the Altarpiece The altarpiece was first documented in 1602, in Drongen Abbey in Ghent, modern-day Belgium. It's uncertain whether the altarpiece was commissioned for the abbey, but there are several striking connections: The monastery's coat-of-arms include the fleur-de-lis and a swan (which is painted on the right pilaster). In addition, in 1608, the monks consecrated the abbey's altar dedicated to the Virgin and St. Margaret. Experts believe a French or Netherlandish artist painted the work around 1510. They favor the Netherlandish artist attribution because the oak wood for the panel was sourced from the Baltic area; French artists preferred painting on local wood panels. According to the gallery, 'The panel's overall eccentricity and the dramatically foreshortened faces of the saints and angels are reminiscent of the early work of Jan Gossaert (active 1508; died 1532). … The composition and versatile execution—alternating smoothly painted areas and minute details with more dynamic passages—also pay homage to the Netherlandish tradition of Jan van Eyck (active 1422; died 1441) and Hugo van der Goes (active 1467; died 1482). The overall sense of plasticity, monumentality, and the strong shadows recall the work of French painters like Jean Hey (Master of Moulins) (active 1482; died after 1504.)' Whoever painted the altarpiece remains a mystery for now. For the art lovers and the faithful, it is, in all certainty, a glorious work of devotion. 'The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret' will be displayed at the National Gallery, London starting May 10. To find out more, visit What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? 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BBC News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Original Coronation Street star Philip Lowrie dies
Original Coronation Street star Philip Lowrie has died aged who appeared in the first episode of the ITV soap in 1960 as the original bad body Dennis Tanner, died on Friday, his publicist Mario Renzullo said."My client and very dear friend, Philip Lowrie, the beloved actor renowned for his role as Dennis Tanner on Coronation Street, passed away yesterday," he said."His death marks the end of an era for the world's longest-running soap, where he became a cornerstone of its storytelling." Lowrie was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. When the soap started more than six decades ago, Lowrie's character was seen as a national heartthrob thanks to his roguish was introduced as the son of Elsie Tanner, and moved in with his mother after being released from had originally auditioned for the role of Ken Barlow prior to the show's launch, and appeared in the first episode at the age of Roache was soon cast as Ken for the beginning of the soap and became a regular sparring partner for left the Street in 1968, when he married Jenny Sutton and moved to Bristol, and did not return until 2011. Killed off According to Mr Renzullo, Lowrie was presented in September 2011 with a certificate by the Guinness World Records for being the person with the longest gap between television appearances as the same character in the same soon got back in touch with newsagent Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox), who was his sweetheart when she first appeared in the show in 1966, and they tied the knot when he came left the soap again in 2014 and was later killed off without making another appearance on screen. Varied career Lowrie's mother saved for his fees to go to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in London after he left graduating three years later, he soon received his first parts in the West End, appearing with Dame Margaret Rutherford and Peggy Mount in the play Farewell, Farewell, also appeared on Victoria Wood's comedy shows, such as Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast, Victoria Wood, Pat and Margaret, Live In Your Own Room, We'd Quite Like To Apologise, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV, and Wood And later stage lead roles in the 2000s and 2010s included being in Dame Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, The Case Of The Frightened Lady and The Lady Vanishes. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
