The little Garden of Paradise by Upper Rhenish Master, Städel, 1410/1420
The denomination Upper Rhenish Master refers to an artist active ca. 1410–20 possibly in Strasbourg.[1] The most famous painting of the artist is Paradiesgärtlein (Little Garden of Paradise), a mixed-technique painting on oakwood, 26.3 x 33.4 cm, now in the Städel Museum (on permanent loan from the Historical museum in Frankfurt since 1922).[2] The painting is the Städel's most famous example of the old German school.[3]
In this famous painting, the artist depicts a secluded scene, with Mary the Mother and Jesus the Child in a secluded corner of a castle garden, a peaceful place protected by a wall from the violent outer world. The painter applies the concept of "hortus conclusus," described by Albertus Magnus of Cologne, philosopher and father of the church.
"hortus conclusus" (Lat. 'enclosed garden')
a representation of the Virgin and Child in a fenced garden, sometimes accompanied by a group of female saints. The garden is a symbolic allusion to a phrase in the Song of Songs (4:12): 'A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse'.
Working some two hundred years after Albertus, the Upper Rhenish Master realizes a painting that is designed for the pleasure of spectators, but is also intended to be the vector of spiritual benefits. According to the 13th-century theologian, a pleasurable and sacred garden should contain "pleasant flowers .. trees .. animal .. a spring set in stone .. for its purity .. source of spiritual delectation" for a pious spectator.[3][4]
Every detail of the Little Garden of Paradise stands for something more than itself. Contemporary people were likely to have been acquainted with the symbols. If, in the Middle Ages few could read, any visual form of communication was an effective instrument in order to spread the faith.
The unknown artist has mastered the use of symbols and orchestrates the stage as a playground not only appropriate for holy persons but for the new and upcoming vision of nature that will be a cornerstone in the 15th century.
Among the other works of this anonymous master, two square panels of much larger size than the Frankfurt painting can be seen today in the Musée de l'Œuvre Notre-Dame in Strasbourg: The Nativity of the Virgin and The Doubt of Saint Joseph.
^Brandmüller, Nicole (2008). Guide to the Collection: Städel Museum. Frankfurt am Main: Michael Imhof Verlag. ISBN 978-3-86568-420-2.
^Marc Chagall. Angeli e Demoni – I Dizionari dell’Arte. 2003 Mondadori Electa S.p.A., Milano
^ abHagen, Rose-Marie; Hagen, Rainer (2001). 15th Century Paintings. Köln: Taschen. ISBN 3-8228-5551-0.
^Albertus Magnus. Summa theologiae
and 21 Related for: Upper Rhenish Master information
The denomination UpperRhenishMaster refers to an artist active ca. 1410–20 possibly in Strasbourg. The most famous painting of the artist is Paradiesgärtlein...
and doubting her faithfulness before being reassured by an angel, UpperRhenishMaster, c. 1430 Joseph's Dream, Rembrandt, c. 1645 Marriage to the Virgin...
collective municipality within Rhens UpperRhenish Circle, an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire UpperRhenishMaster, an artist active ca. 1410-20, possibly...
Dormition Master of the Třeboň Altarpiece Master of Trognano Master of the Tucher Altarpiece Union MasterUpperRhenishMaster (also known as Master of the...
from Bergheim, Haut-Rhin (detail) Romanesque capital with merman UpperRhenishMaster, Madonna with Child aka. Virgin of Niedermorschwihr Veit Wagner (attributed...
Devotional Images The Garden of Eden, a hortus conclusus by the Master of the Upper Rhineland Early Delights, excellent piece by Jemima Montagu on the...
Illuminator Master of the Passion of Christ 15th-century Swedish Painter Master of the Berswordt Altar 1400 German Painter UpperRhenishMaster fl. c. 1410–1420...
Master of the Drapery Studies - the former may have taught the latter. The impact of the Master of the Karlsruhe Passion can be seen in UpperRhenish...
Paradiesgärtleins an unknown medieval painter who is also known as the UpperRhenishMaster, as an example of aesthetic inarched grafting of tree trunks. The...
Virgin (Pietro Lorenzetti), c. 1335–1342 Nativity of the Virgin (UpperRhenishMaster), c. 1430 This disambiguation page lists articles associated with...
monastery, and was very academically inclined, becoming both a teacher and head-master at the school before becoming abbot. Understanding the importance of education...
the mouth of the River Main into the Rhine. It is the largest city of Rhenish Hesse, a region of Rhineland-Palatinate that was historically part of Hesse...
Europe (including the Dutch Rhenish territories) and until 1871, as well as old master paintings from the Germanic Rhenish territories between 1681 and...
South, based on North and South Korea, from the TV series, Young Justice. Rhenish Republic Spartakus: World in Revolution, a mod for Hearts of Iron IV Rhythm...
an important representative of the UpperRhenish school of painting of the mid-15th century and a probable master of Martin Schongauer. Isenmann's dates...
the painter known as the Master of the Karlsruhe Passion, the notname of an outstanding artist of the Late Gothic UpperRhenish school. Dated to around...
contributed 10 Rhenish gulden each, and thirteen contributed 5 Rhenish gulden each. Thus, the total membership in the second year was 295 Rhenish gulden. The...
experience an unusual configuration. In the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the breakthrough by the Rhine through the Rhenish Slate Mountains created this configuration...
Global Information