On February 28th I visited Chicago Art Institute, in order to find out more about the Northern Renaissance Art. One of many beautiful paintings, which interested me the most was "Virgin and Child" by Rogier van der Weyden, leading Netherlandish painter of the mid-15th century. His real name was Rogier de la Pasture and he was born in Tournai (1399-1464). He was a son of a master cutler. The artist received his training in Walloon province of Hainaut, influenced by the elegant Franco Flemish style. As a young man he was an apprentice in Robert Campin's flourishing workshop. In 1432 he became an independent master, and in 1435 he moved to Brussels, where he was appointed official city painter. His style derives from the work of his two contemporaries, Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin. He used realism and dynamic language in his works, and he was called a master of Gothic art. The painting "Virgin and Child" was finished in 1460. The artist used oil on panel. The most important benefit of using oils was that they have a slow-drying time, during which their colors do not change, allowing the artist to rework, correct, and even scrape off areas of paint. The painting portrays Virgin holding baby Christ. She is placed against velvet cloth of honor. Madonna looks very calm and beautiful. Her face is turned to the right, with eyes looking down at the baby. In her sad eyes there is a great amount of love and devotion for the baby Jesus. She holds Him in a very nurturing way. Mary is stylized as a tender and shy with sensitive nature of a mother. The Virgin looks sweet, but she is an exalted mother of Jesus Christ. The halo over her head gives her supernatural look. Also the robe makes her more as a deity. She holds the infant with long and strong fingers while He is playing with the clasp of a manuscript. Her torso portrayed in "S" shape is a characteristic of a High Gothic Style. The artist does not pay much attention to the space, depth, landscape, or light.
