Hans Memling

Years of life:	1430 – 1494
Artist's Teachers:	Rogier van der Weyden
Art Movement:	Northern Renaissance
Painting School:	Bruges School, Flemish School

Genre:	Portrait , Religious
Country:	Flanders
Century:	XV

He is a prolific, Bruges-based pupil of van der Weyden. His large altarpieces are too rigid, with stiff figures like statues. He was better at small devotional pictures (full of life, with good space) and small portraits (he learned from manuscript illuminations). He liked soft textures (his drapery has soft, not crisp, folds); soft hair; soft landscapes, and smooth, rounded, demure, idealized faces. Memling’s work is characterized by decorative rather than expressive features.

Notice his interesting skies of intense blue, melting to white on the horizon. His motifs such as garlands of fruit and flowers held by putti are borrowed from the Italian Renaissance (possibly from Mantegna).

Hans Memling’s major works are Portrait of a Man with an Arrow, c. 1470–75 (Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art); The Virgin and Child with an Angel, c. 1470–80 (London: National Gallery); Bathsheba, c. 1482 (Stuttgart: Staatsgalerie).

References:

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

Artworks:

The Nativity

1463

Part of "Hulin de Loo's poliptych"

The Nativity • 1463
Adoration of the Magi Triptych, detail

1470

Adoration of the Magi Triptych, detail • 1470
Virgin and Child

1475

Virgin and Child • 1475
The Man of Sorrows in the arms of the Virgin

1470s

The Man of Sorrows in the arms of the Virgin • 1470s
The Seven Joys of Mary

1480

The Seven Joys of Mary • 1480
Christ at the Column

between 1485 and 1490

Christ at the Column • between 1485 and 1490
Mater Dolorosa

1480s

Mater Dolorosa • 1480s
Virgin and Child with Sts James and Dominic

between 1488 and 1490

Virgin and Child with Sts James and Dominic • between 1488 and 1490
Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels

between 1485 and 1490

Virgin and Child Enthroned with Two Angels • between 1485 and 1490
Triptych of The Resurrection

1490

Triptych of The Resurrection • 1490
The Annunciation

1489

The Annunciation • 1489
St Andrew (left wing of a diptych, reverse)

1490s

St Andrew (left wing of a diptych, reverse) • 1490s
Man of Sorrows

1490

Man of Sorrows • 1490
Madonna Enthroned with Child and Two Angels

between 1490 and 1491

Madonna Enthroned with Child and Two Angels • between 1490 and 1491
Flowers in a Jug (reverse)

1485

Flowers in a Jug (reverse) • 1485
Allegory with a Virgin

between 1479 and 1480

Allegory with a Virgin • between 1479 and 1480
Adoration of the Magi

1470

Adoration of the Magi • 1470
Portrait of a Man with a Roman Coin

1480 or later

Portrait of a Man with a Roman Coin • 1480 or later
Portrait of a Young Woman

1480

Portrait of a Young Woman • 1480
Portrait of Willem Moreel

1482

Portrait of Willem Moreel • 1482
Portraits of Willem Moreel and His Wife

1482

Portraits of Willem Moreel and His Wife • 1482
Tommaso Portinari and his Wife

1470

Tommaso Portinari and his Wife • 1470
Adam and Eve

1485

Adam and Eve • 1485
The Man of Sorrows Blessing

1480 - 1490

The Man of Sorrows Blessing • 1480 - 1490
Christ Giving His Blessing

1481

Christ Giving His Blessing • 1481
The Last Judgment

between 1466 and 1473

The Last Judgment • between 1466 and 1473
Scenes from the passion Of Christ

between 1470 and 1471

Scenes from the passion Of Christ • between 1470 and 1471
Advent and Triumph of Christ

1480

Advent and Triumph of Christ • 1480
Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian

1470-1480

Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian • 1470-1480