Hans Memling, Saint Ursula Shrine

VISITFLANDERS has joined forces with Smarthistory and the Center for Netherlandish Art at the MFA Boston to bring you a series of video conversations with curators on important Flemish paintings by artists such as Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Peter Paul Rubens, and James Ensor.
Hans Memling, Saint Ursula Shrine, c. 1489, oil on panel with gilding, 91.5 × 99 x 41.5 cm (Museum of Saint John's Hospital, Bruges)
speakers: Dr. Anna Koopstra, curator of early Netherlandish painting, Musea Brugge, and Dr. Beth Harris, Smarthistory
For more information, please visit www.flemishmasters.com
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[@ginacrusco234]

The image of the saint protecting others under her cloak called to my mind Piero della Francesca's Madonna dell Misericordia altarpiece from 1460-1462. I'm quite surprised that a motif associated with the Madonna was used by Memling to represent St Ursula! I saw this reliquary in Bruges but I hadn't noticed the reflection of St Ursula's martyrdom in the soldier's armor -- such a captivating and quintessentially Netherlandish detail. I am devouring every installation of this series!

[@Sasha0927]

This piece cannot be denied - it is immediately striking. You can tell it was carefully crafted in honor of an important subject. As I heard more about her life, I could appreciate why Memling chose Saint Ursula. My life has had its rough moments, but to see this woman stand firm as she and her husband-to-be are being killed is inspiring, to say the least. I trust that it is still helping people along their spiritual journeys. I see Smarthistory getting fancy on me with the floating, rotating model. It's been amazing to see your presentation evolve over ~12 years of doing this work. Always great, but even better today. ❤

[@sandrasharby8405]

A wonderful piece! The colors are so vivid and figures so detailed. Thank you for these videos.

[@creestee08]

i do miss this series and the architecture series. thanks!

[@SmittenKitten.]

A piece like this makes you feel like you're in two worlds, one of these worlds being the holy realm, obviously, and makes my mind think of all things divine, but the other is the human realm due to the labor-intensive aspects of creating such an object. You can almost visualize yourself holding it and delicately carving out the intricate "Gothic fretwork" (I don't know if that's the correct term), honing the shapes and relief work, then creating and painting the scenes. But the sensation of Earthly time passing stands out to me when looking at it.

[@juliehayne4636]

Thank you, Smarthistory! Thank you, also Visit Flanders, whose videos were also a ray of sunshine during the COVID days!

[@rodrigoestrada8347]

Excellent explanation of the Shrine panels. I understand it is permanently displayed at St. John's Hospital, or is it in view only in the festive day?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

The St. Ursula Shrine seems to be on permanent view whenever the museum is open.

[@rodrigoestrada8347]

@@smarthistory-art-history thanks for the info. St. John's Hospital is now on my bucket list for my Flanders trip next year.

[@LukasTrelease]

The emphasis on the illusion of reality reminds me of George Rochenbach’s Symbolist novel “Bruges-la-Morte” where this artist is mentioned several times