Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Mermaid Ewer, 16th Century

Ewer
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Made between 1550 and 1600, this ewer would have been used to pour and carry water, and, so that it would be both decorative and functional, it has been given a fitting nautical visual theme. Cast in the form of a mermaid, the ewer boasts an elaborate design which suggests that it was a commission from a wealthy patron.

For two centuries before this was commissioned, medieval craftsmen in Flanders (Belgium) were known for their brass castings of fanciful creatures. This ewer keeps that tradition alive.

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I thought we would devote today's posts to the work of Flemish artists.  Though I always make a joke of the Flanderseses because of my love of The Simpsons, and their chipper neighborino Nedward Flanders, just know I have a deep affection for the works of the people of this historical region.  So, when I say, "Stupid Flanders," and I'm bound to, that's all I mean.

Painting of the Day: A Sixteenth-Century Flemish Portrait

Rendered in thick strokes of rich greens, umbers and yellows, this portrait of a young man most likely comes from the County of Flanders and dates to the late Sixteenth Century. The County of Flanders overlapped parts of present-day Belgium. We can tell this painting is Flemish by the style of the young man’s cap and dress. Artist’s apprentices of the time were attired in outfits such as this.

With his sullen, expectant expression, the subject radiates an adolescent insecurity—the emotions of someone learning a craft during an uncertain time. Still in its original frame, the painting is flanked by leather straps which form a decorative pattern around the canvas. An unusual find, I am fond of this painting because of the raw emotion that it exhibits. Here is proof of the mastery of Flemish painting—the ability to create a fully formed portrait from a limited color palette and loose brush strokes.