My memory of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich (2/2)
Albrecht Altdorfer, a renowned 16th-century German painter, sculptor, and architect, excelled in depicting natural landscapes with religious themes. His monumental work "The Battle of Alexander" portrays the 333 BC Battle of Issus. Alexander the Great of Macedonia, with less than a third of the Persian forces, defeated the Persian army at Issus (now in Turkey). However, the painting is set against the backdrop of German cities and the Alps, with Macedonian soldiers in German armor and Persian soldiers in exotic attire wearing turbans. As the sun sets, the battle is nearing its end, with the Macedonian army on the right clearly overwhelming the Persian forces on the left. In the middle, Darius III flees in a chariot, pursued by Alexander riding a horse with a lance.
The great painter Peter Paul Rubens, born in Germany but active in Antwerp in the southern Netherlands, was a representative of the Baroque art movement in the 17th century. Baroque art is characterized by its love of twisted, dynamic lines that create complex, ornate compositions, evoking a strong sense of rhythm. His works were praised throughout Europe for their intricate compositions, rich colors, and scenes juxtaposing male and female figures. In 1609, upon returning from Italy to Antwerp, Rubens met and quickly married the noblewoman Isabella Brant, 18 years his junior, whom he had depicted in their wedding portrait, "Rubens and Isabella beneath the Arbor of Honeysuckle."
In this double self-portrait, Rubens wears elegant attire reminiscent of a noble knight, while Isabella wears a luxurious crimson embroidered satin gown and a high crown hat. They sit hand in hand beneath a honeysuckle tree, gazing politely at the viewer, embodying the middle-class Flemish bourgeoisie. The intimate scene is filled with symbols of love and marriage: honeysuckle and the garden, traditional symbols of love, while their joined hands suggest marital unity.
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a master of the 17th-century Spanish art scene, began his artistic journey learning from his uncle, also a painter. Influenced by Spanish masters of realism, his depictions of saints are known for their vivid personalities and realism. His diverse life experiences led to vivid depictions of children and street scenes, including beggars, wanderers, and farmers. He left behind many works depicting the customs of beggars, wanderers, and farmers, earning him high acclaim in later years.
Murillo's masterpiece, "Jesus Healing the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda," is based on the Gospel of John, set near the Pool of Bethesda near Jerusalem. According to tradition, an angel stirred the waters of the pool at certain times, granting healing to the first person who entered. Many sick gathered by the poolside. One Sabbath day, Jesus arrived and asked a man who had been lying there for 38 years if he wanted to be healed. The man replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. Jesus then told him to pick up his mat and walk, and the man was immediately healed. This oil painting is one of a series Murillo created for a charitable hospital in his hometown of Seville. His works remained intact until the early 19th century, when during the French occupation of Seville in 1812, King Joseph Bonaparte of Spain ordered this painting and four others from the series sent to Paris. After passing through various hands, the painting is now housed in the National Gallery of England.