Gerard David

Years of life:	1484 – 1523
Art Movement:	Early Renaissance
Painting School:	Ghent-Bruges School

Genre:	Religious
Country:	Netherlands
Century:	XV , XVI

The last significant Netherlandish painter in the tradition of Van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden. David worked in Bruges and Antwerp, creating portraits and altarpieces. He loved the exact details of objects. David was fascinated with landscape and townscape, placing figures naturally and at ease within them—his landscapes are especially fine. His spaces are open, not crowded with characters, which gives a feeling of peace and harmony with nature and God.

Notice how the Italian influence on his work increases progressively and inexorably but never takes over completely; moves from love of particular detail to more generalized storytelling. Note the individualism of each tree; characters have modest, solemn, but seemingly expressionless, faces. The Splendid, subtle, rich colors, harmoniously woven together. David’s paintings remind us that fine craftsmanship and skill are God-given talents.

Gerard David’s major works are Christ Nailed to the Cross, c. 1481 (London: National Gallery); The Annunciation, 1506 (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art); A Rest during the Flight to Egypt, c. 1510 (Madrid: Museo del Prado).

References:

Robert Cumming. Art: complete encyclopedia. – 512 p. – Moscow: Astrel, 2005.

Artworks:

Lamentation

between 1515 and 1523

Lamentation • between 1515 and 1523
Christ on the Cross

1515

Christ on the Cross • 1515
Canon Bernardijn Salviati and Three Saints

between 1502 and 1506

Canon Bernardijn Salviati and Three Saints • between 1502 and 1506
Adoration of the Magi

1515

Adoration of the Magi • 1515
The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor

1510s

The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor • 1510s
Christ Nailed to the Cross

1481

Christ Nailed to the Cross • 1481
An Augustinian Friar (?) Praying

1515

An Augustinian Friar (?) Praying • 1515
The Judgement of Cambyses

1498

The Judgement of Cambyses • 1498
The Marriage at Cana

1500-1505 (1495-1510)

The Marriage at Cana • 1500-1505 (1495-1510)
Annunciation

1500-1510

Annunciation • 1500-1510
The Annunciation

1520

The Annunciation • 1520
The Baptism of Christ, with donors and their patron saints (Altar of Jean des Trompes)

1502-1508

The Baptism of Christ, with donors and their patron saints (Altar of Jean des Trompes) • 1502-1508
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

1510

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt • 1510
Virgin and child in a landscape

1520

Virgin and child in a landscape • 1520
Pilate's Dispute with the High Priest

between 1480 and 1485

Pilate's Dispute with the High Priest • between 1480 and 1485
Virgin and Child with the Milk Soup

1510

Virgin and Child with the Milk Soup • 1510
The Judgment of Cambyses (right panel-detail)

1498

The Judgment of Cambyses (right panel-detail) • 1498
The Marriage at Cana

1500

The Marriage at Cana • 1500
Rest on the Flight into Egypt

1515

Rest on the Flight into Egypt • 1515