“Observe this striking diptych, where a donor's personal devotion to Saint Paul is juxtaposed with the poignant scene of Christ appearing to his mother after the resurrection, a masterpiece of late 15th-century Netherlandish art.”
This diptych presents two distinct yet related scenes, one sacred and one devotional. On the left, Saint Paul, identifiable by his sword, stands with a kneeling donor, likely the person who commissioned this painting. The donor's hands are clasped in prayer, directing his gaze and devotion towards the right panel. Here, Christ appears to his mother, Mary, after his resurrection. The artist, known as the Master of the View of Saint Gudula, creates a sense of intimacy and quiet reverence in both panels. The figures are rendered with a soft, naturalistic light, emphasizing their forms and expressions. This work offers a fascinating glimpse into late 15th-century Netherlandish painting, combining personal piety with biblical narrative in a deeply personal format.
- Artist
- Master of the View of Saint Gudula
- Date
- 1480
- Medium
- Oil on wood
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- (a) overall 37 3/8 x 11 3/8 in. (94.9 x 28.9 cm), painted surface 36 3/4 x 10 7/8 in. (93.4 x 27.6 cm); (b) overall 37 1/4 x 11 1/4 in. (94.6 x 28.6 cm), painted surface 36 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (93.4 x 27.3 cm)
- Collection
- European Paintings
- Credit line
- The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
Saint Paul's sword, his traditional attribute, rests against his shoulder.
The donor's hands are clasped in prayer, his gaze fixed on the adjacent panel.
Christ's wounds are visible, a detail emphasizing his resurrection.
Mary's expression of awe and reverence as Christ appears to her.
1 more detail is waiting.
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Master of the View of Saint Gudula
This enigmatic Early Netherlandish painter, active in Brussels, is known for his detailed religious scenes and portraits of church patrons.
Further Works by Gudula
The Crucifixion
1330 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Lamentation
1330 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Abner's Messenger before David; The Queen of Sheba Bringing Gifts to Solomon; The Annunciation
1475 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve
1475 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Young Man Holding a Book
1475 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne Presenting Anna van Nieuwenhove
1479 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Virgin and Child
1480 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Arrival in Bethlehem
1540 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Gudula: works from the same years.
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Christ Child with a Walking Frame
Hieronymus Bosch · 1480 · Kunsthistorisches Museum
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Portrait of a Musician
Leonardo da Vinci · 1485 · Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Virgin and Child with an Angel
Sandro Botticelli · 1470 · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Same era · 1460s–1490s
The Lamentation
Albrecht Dürer · 1477 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Adoration of the Christ Child
Workshop of Andrea della Robbia · 1479 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Madonna and Child
Giovanni Bellini · 1470 · Musée Fesch
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints John the Baptist and Sebastian
Pietro Perugino · 1493 · Uffizi Gallery
Same era · 1460s–1490s
Plate with arms of the Tosinghi family
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1495 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art