George Trubert worked as a manuscript illuminator for Provence's Duke René I (1408-1480) of Anjou and his grandson, Duke René II (1451-1508) of Lorraine. The artist was greatly influenced by innovations in painting achieved by his Italian and early Netherlandish peers. In the transition from medieval to Renaissance times, artists began to observe nature and paint its various phenomena. Some, like Trubert, sought to portray the motion of water as well as distinct aspects of geography. This splendid French manuscript illumination depicts a young Saint John the Evangelist, author of the Book of Revelation, while exiled on the Greek island of Patmos. In Trubert's work, John begins to write his biography of Jesus Christ on an unraveled scroll.
Each of the Gospels' four authors (Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were associated with an attribute or symbol. In this leaf, the apostle John's eagle, with outstretched wings, regally stands before him. The sea's deep blue curved lines suggest waves carrying four ships in the distance. Perspective is indicated by the vessels' diminishing size as they recede into the composition's background. Although Saint John is obviously too large for the land mass on which he sits, Trubert rendered the landscape's smaller islands and their castles with exacting attention to detail, indicative of his Netherlandish artistic proclivities.
"Landscape in the Renaissance" is on view from August 1 to October 15, 2006 at The Getty Museum, located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1681 (Telephone: 310-440-7300; Website). The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Admission is free. Paid parking is based on availability and costs $8.00 per car, cash only.
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From your Guide: Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, is a regular contributor to About Art History and the author of this feature. You may read all of his Special Exhibition and Catalogue Reviews here.
Each of the Gospels' four authors (Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were associated with an attribute or symbol. In this leaf, the apostle John's eagle, with outstretched wings, regally stands before him. The sea's deep blue curved lines suggest waves carrying four ships in the distance. Perspective is indicated by the vessels' diminishing size as they recede into the composition's background. Although Saint John is obviously too large for the land mass on which he sits, Trubert rendered the landscape's smaller islands and their castles with exacting attention to detail, indicative of his Netherlandish artistic proclivities.
"Landscape in the Renaissance" is on view from August 1 to October 15, 2006 at The Getty Museum, located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1681 (Telephone: 310-440-7300; Website). The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Admission is free. Paid parking is based on availability and costs $8.00 per car, cash only.
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From your Guide: Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, is a regular contributor to About Art History and the author of this feature. You may read all of his Special Exhibition and Catalogue Reviews here.
