John the Baptist (left wing), Donor (right wing), Vanitas Still Life (closed)
Period
16th centuryCollection
Museum of Fine Arts Ghent
This triptych, which is missing the central panel, comes from an anonymous master from the circle of Lucas d’Heere. When closed, it shows a vanitas, which is accompanied by a verse in Latin on the left and in Dutch on the right. A skull and crossbones, surmounted by a sceptre and a shovel, is depicted atop a black coffin with…
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This triptych, which is missing the central panel, comes from an anonymous master from the circle of Lucas d’Heere. When closed, it shows a vanitas, which is accompanied by a verse in Latin on the left and in Dutch on the right. A skull and crossbones, surmounted by a sceptre and a shovel, is depicted atop a black coffin with a white cross. On the back of these panels, which are painted on both sides, is a picture of John the Baptist (left) and an unidentified donor (right). The Ghent painter-poet Lucas d’Heere was probably a member of the Chamber of Rhetoric known as De Balsemblomme, which was established by Philip the Fair. The artist accorded the society a prominent role in the entry of William of Orange in 1577. The motto on the vanitas complies with the taste and tradition of the rhetorical Flemish painters. In a free translation it reads: ‘O Lord, your cross confronts me, the miserable, with my crimes, and leaves me dissatisfied with my life. But your sweet word ‘it is finished’ cheers my heart and gives me new life, so that I should not be discouraged – I, who am burdened with guilt.’
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