Jacob Jordaens - singer of a full-blooded life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Jakob Jordaens (1593-1678) was born and lived in a contradictory time for his homeland. The country split into two parts. The north was freed from Spanish rule, while the south remained under her rule, and Catholicism continued to flourish there. But everywhere the bourgeoisie grew stronger, its we alth increased, it prospered and wanted to see around itself the splendor and reflection of the fullness of life both in household items and on the canvases that it ordered from artists. This is how a joyful, powerful, pompous, realistic style emerged, reflecting changes in society, very full-blooded and life-affirming.

Childhood and youth

We althy cloth merchant Jacob Jordaens had a large family of eleven children. The eldest son, who showed great artistic inclinations, was sent to study painting. Having not yet completed his studies, around 1615, Jacob Jordaens, son, creates a “Portrait of a Family with Parents, Brothers and Sisters”. As a detail, his self-portrait is presented here. The young artist who depicted his large family of different ages is 22 years old here.

His serious big eyes look at us, and inhe holds a lute in his hands. When the audience disperses, light joyful music will play, supporting harmony. Angels keep his family, hovering over the heads of the characters. The coloring is sustained in warm golden-brown tones, creating a cozy atmosphere of family well-being. Moreover, the faces are highlighted in golden color, and the facial expressions of the characters are clear and noticeable. The painter immerses the rest of the details in the shadows so that they do not interfere with the main thing - the perception of facial expressions.

Prado, Madrid, masterpiece

Another "Family Portrait" Jacob Jordaens created while already married to Katharina van Noort and having a daughter, Elisabeth, for about four years. This is one of his four masterpieces.

The viewer looks diagonally from left to right, and the first glance falls on a blond girl who, leaning against her mother, holds a basket. The artist's wife, exquisitely dressed in a dark blue velvet dress with white lace cuffs and collar, sits at ease in an armchair. A corsage embroidered with gold and a gold bracelet on the arm emphasize the we alth of the family. Next is a rosy-cheeked maid in a red dress, who holds a basket of fruits. Her white apron and dress collar echo the white apron of the artist's daughter, who depicted himself at the far right, standing with a mandolin in his hand. The lighting is distributed in such a way that all the figures and their faces glow with gold, behind them are deep saturated shadows, from which all the figures protrude in relief. This solemn portrait with elements of humor, which brings a little coquettish daughter, combines the portraitpersuasiveness and monumentality of the created images.

Masterpiece from Brussels

In the years 1625-1628, masterfully owning a brush, the artist Jacob Jordaens will paint a canvas that is called a little differently: “Allegory of Fertility” or “Allegory of Abundance”. At this time, he, like a great master, already has 15 students. On his multi-figure composition, he placed nymphs and satyrs with great skill. All the figures are carefully drawn realistically and are still diagonally arranged. The satyr, squatting in the left corner, attracts attention with a huge basket of fruits and fruits - a wonderful still life, traditional for Dutch painting.

Nymphs and satyrs occupy two-thirds of the canvas. They are all busy with bunches of gray grapes. The whitest skin of the women is exquisitely painted, which contrasts with the swarthy satyrs on the right.

The whole composition is a full-blooded flowering life that the Dutch loved so much.

The Hermitage is another masterpiece

One of the pearls created by the master of the brush - "Bean King" - is kept in Russia. In 1638, Jacob Jordaens in Antwerp, where he spent his whole life, will write this work full of optimism and humor. Influencing the artist's work, Rubens will affect this canvas with soft color gradations, shimmering in all shades of silver blue, emerald green and golden brown.

This is a genre scene that depictsfolk holiday. The one who finds a bean in his piece of the pie will be appointed king. Glasses are raised in honor of the king, who is wearing a crown, someone is already singing songs. Both old and young have fun with all their hearts. There are incredible noise and din. As at any national holiday, all the prohibitions imposed by the church are lifted here. But this is only for a while. Tomorrow the Dutch will get to work with their characteristic diligence.

50-60s of the 17th century

This is the period of full maturity of the master. Already by the 40s, he becomes the most popular artist in Flanders. He is the only one working in the "big style". He ordered paintings for the English king Charles I and his wife. but these works have not survived. They burned down in a fire. Jacob Jordaens also writes for the Orange dynasty. Pictures by this time change color. They turn silver-blue, like a huge multi-figure pathetic solemn canvas "The Triumph of Prince Frederic of Orange", where, in addition to people, lions and horses are introduced.

Death of an artist

Jakob Jordaens had a long life filled with works, not bright events. A biography can fit in two or three lines or even words: born, studied, married, wrote. The master died at a ripe old age. He is 85 years old. But the disease that took him away is unknown today. Its medieval name is impossible to decipher. But the picturesque masterpieces of Jacob Jordaens remained with us. They have survived the ages.