Triptych: The Annunciation; The Adoration of the Magi; The Flight into Egypt
attributed to Jan Mertens van Dornicke (c.1470 - c.1527)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1518
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
876 x 552 mm (34 1/2 x 21 3/4 in) central panel, with arch and ogee tops
Place of origin
Netherlands
Order this imageCollection
Stourhead, Wiltshire
NT 732308
Caption
This is a religious altarpiece, or triptych, because of its three parts. In the central panel the three kings, or wise men, called Magi, who have travelled to Bethlehem to celebrate Christ’s birth, come to adore him. Caspar kneels, offering a gold chalice. The other two, Balthasar and Melchior, holding their hats, bear gifts of frankincense and myrrh. Accompanied soldiers and Joseph, they stand within the archway of a Northern Renaissance building. In the left panel the Virgin kneels in a domestic setting, a vase of lilies, signifying her purity, next to her. The angel Gabriel and the dove, representing the Holy Sprit, appear in the air between marble columns announcing that she shall conceive the son of God. The inscription on the angel’s scroll reads: Ave gracia plena domina tecom (Greetings most favoured one. The Lord is with you). In the right panel the Holy Family are on their flight into Egypt.The Virgin sits on the donkey holding Christ. Warned in a dream that Herod was looking for Jesus in order to kill him, Joseph takes them to safety. The column and broken idolatrous pagan statue signifies the coming of a new religious order. Another Flemish altarpiece of a similar style, particularly in the composition of the central panel is at Dyrham Park (NT).
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Triptych: The Annunciation; The Adoration of the Magi; The Flight into Egypt, attributed to Jan van Dornicke (c. 1470 - c. 1527), circa 1518. A triptych of the Adoration of the Magi and shepherds (centre); Annunciation (left wing) and the Flight into Egypt (right wing). In the central panel the Magi pay homage to the Christ Child in front of a Northern Renaissance building with an archway at the back through which the landscape is visible. In the left panel the Virgin kneels at a prie-dieu in the foreground and the Angel and the dove appear in the air between marble columns. A sideboard with dishes is seen in the background. In the right panel is the Holy Family on their flight into Egypt, with the column of the idolatrous statue, broken in half, discernible in the background.
Provenance
Brought from Wavendon by Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare 6th Bt (1865 - 1947) and Alda Weston, Lady Hoare (d. 1847) between 1894 and 1898; given to the National Trust along with the house, its grounds, and the rest of contents by Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare, 6th Bt (1865 – 1947) in 1946.
Credit line
Stourhead, The Hoare Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
attributed to Jan Mertens van Dornicke (c.1470 - c.1527), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Flemish (Antwerp) School, artist previously catalogued as attributed to Hans Memling (Seligenstadt 1430/40 – Bruges 1494), artist
References
Grössinger 1992 Christa Grössinger, North-European Panel Paintings A Catalogue of Netherlandsih & German Paintings before 1600 in English Chrurches and Colleges. Harvey Miller Publishers 1992, p.76 & 77 Stourhead List of Pictures [National Trust;Alastair Laing], 1981, reprinted with corrections 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995 , p.14 Stourhead List of pictures and sculpture [National Trust; Alastair Laing] 2009, p. 63