The Metropolitan Museum of Art: overview and significance

Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Analysis of the Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve

During the Middle Ages, altarpieces were commonly adorned with images of religious figures, either depicting scenes from the Bible -- usually of the life of Jesus or Mary -- and various saints. "An altarpiece is a carving, painting, sculpture, screen or decorated wall made for a Christian church altar, the table at which mass is said… generally showing scenes relating to the life of the central figure. These are presented in chronological order and can be read like a comic strip" (Pioch 2002). The oil-on-wood altarpiece found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art entitled The Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve was commissioned by the Guild of the Load Bearers in Bruges for their chapel. Godelieve, a saint specific to the Netherlands, was likely chosen as the focus of the work because she is the patron saint of Flanders.

The images highlight the conflict Godelieve had living as a daughter of wealthy parents 'in the world' and her desire to live a life in Christ. According to the information provided by the Met on the work, the first panels shows her giving food from her parent's larder to the poor, but the food is transformed into wood when a servant 'catches' her in the act. The center panel on the left also shows her giving away food during a feast, which is replenished for the revelers by the angels so they will not be aware of Godelieve's actions. The third shows her being married off by her parents to a wealthy landowner. The fourth shows the saint being accused of witchcraft and the final panels shows her martyrdom and subsequent posthumous miracles. Three questions which arise from this work are: Why was Godelieve specifically chosen for this altarpiece, versus Christ, Mary, or other saints? Why were these specific incidents from Godelieve's life chosen for the different 'comic strip' panels of the work? And to what extent is the design of the overall work reflective of the conventions of the period -- and to what extent is the style or content unique?