Paintings from before Jan van Eyck’s time are rare in this part of Europe. And there are hardly any well-preserved masterpieces from that period. These beautiful, radiant panels from around 1400 are therefore exceptional.
This scene is pure emotion. The bloodied body of Jesus has just been taken down from the cross and will be laid in the tomb. The dramatic scene was intended to encourage compassion and reflection in those who looked at it.
Retables with their numerous figurines are a beautiful sight. Large examples were intended to be placed on an altar or attached to the wall behind an altar. Smaller pieces like this were for private use.
This is painting and sculpture together in one beautiful work: a gilded retable in the form of an elegant tower. A very wealthy client must have commissioned it – perhaps from the circle of the dukes of Burgundy.
Fritz Mayer van den Bergh had a close relationship with his mother. After his death, she realised his life’s dream of setting up his own museum. Henriëtte van den Bergh also had a strong social conscience.
Fritz Mayer van den Bergh bought art and historical objects for around twenty years. The resulting museum collection numbers around 3,100 items, and is surprisingly diverse.
