Roger van der Weyden
Biography and Paintings of Northern Renaissance Artist Rogelet de la Pasture
Visual Arts Guide

The Deposition (Descent from the Cross)
(c.1435-40), one of Weyden's greatest
history paintings.

Van der Weyden (1400-1464)

Along with his contemporary Jan van Eyck, artist Roger van der Weyden was one of the leading Dutch painters of the 15th Century Northern Renaissance. He was best known for his colourful triptychs, diptychs and polyptychs panel paintings, mainly on religious subjects. In his history painting (istoria), Weyden sets the standard by which other Northern Renaissance artists are judged.

Born in Tournai, Holland in 1400 his father worked as a knife manufacturer. Although little is known Weyden's life, it is believed he was also known as 'Rogelet de la Pasture', who was a pupil of artist Robert Campin (Rogier van der Weyden and Rogelet de la Pasture being the Flemish and French translation, respectively, of Roger of the Meadow).

Detail from, The Deposition

Records show that Rogelet de la Pasture obtained his title of Master Painter in 1427. Following his apprenticeship, he moved to Brussels, and was appointed painter to the city around 1436. Although historians are unable to verify how many (if any) paintings can definitely be attributed to Roger as he did not sign or document his works, it is clear that by 1436 he was already quite wealthy, and obviously successful. At that time, Brussels was mainly Flemish speaking, so he became known by his Dutch name, Rogier van der Weyden.

It is generally accepted that The Deposition, 1435, for the Church of Notre Dame du Dehors (now in the Museo del Prado, Madrid) is a work by his hand. Where Van Eyck strove to express his art through a dispassionate realism, Weyden's fine art painting was characterized by rich colour and dramatic style. He went on to paint many serene, aristocratic portraits of the Burgundian Dukes, their relatives, friends and courtiers. Apart from one trip to Italy in 1450, it is thought he never left Brussels again, although his paintings were sent all over Europe and were extremely popular.

Detail of Mary, from The Deposition

He may have painted his Madonna with Four Saints (Frankfurt Stadelsches Kunstinstitut) while in Florence as the picture bears the coat of arms of Florence. And he may also have painted the Entombment (originally in the Medici Collection but now in the Uffizi) which suggested a study of Fra Angelico's work.

Van der Weyden's most famous paintings were the four huge panels painted for the Brussels Town Hall, and the subject was Justice being served in the images of 'Justice of Trajan' and ‘Justice of Herkenbald'. Painted around 1439, they took the artist about 10 years to complete. Unfortunately the panels were destroyed in the French bombardment of Brussels in 1695, so they are only known today through old descriptions and partial copies.

Detail from, The Beaune Altarpiece (1450)
showing Damned Souls

Other works, attributed to Weyden include The Annunciation, (Musée du Louvre, Paris), Magdalen (Musee du Louvre), The Decent from the Cross, (Museo del Prado), Diptych with the Virgin and Child Standing in a Niche, c.1430 (Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum), Crucifixion, c.1430 (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin), Lady Wearing a Gauze Headdress, c.1435 (Gemaeldegalerie, Berlin), The Virgin and Child 1436 (Museo del Prado), Saint Luke Drawing the Portrait of the Virgin, c.1440 (Boston Museum of Fine Arts), Altarpiece of the Last Judgement, 1443 (Chapel at Hotel Dieu at Beaune), Pieta, 1450 (Museo del Prado), Virgin and Child, c.1454 (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), Portrait of a Lady, c.1455 (National Gallery of Art, Washington) and Francesco d'Este, c.1460 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).

Van der Weyden died in 1464. His expressive religious paintings influenced other Northern Renaissance painters for many years to come. It is believed in particular that he influenced the painter Hans Memling (who may have been a pupil) and the engraver Martin Schongauer, whose prints were very much in keeping with van der Weyden's style and were disseminated all over Europe. He is now considered one of the most eloquent and influential religious painters in the history of art.

...For information about the greatest painter and sculptor of the High Renaissance in Florence and Rome, including details of his immortal Sistine Chapel frescoes, see Michelangelo.

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