arts analysis
ARTS 1A: Document Analysis 7
Dieric Bouts Read and analyze the following primary source document, which is a contract between representatives of St. Peter’s Church in Louvain and master painter Dieric Bouts. Address the questions which follow. A contract between painter Dieric Bouts and representatives of St. Peter’s Church in Louvain for an altarpiece, 1464 All who will see the present document or will hear it read are hereby informed and notified that on the fifteenth of March 1464 (after the reckoning of the venerable court of Liége) a firm agreement and contract was set up and concluded between the four administrators of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sacrament at the Church of St. Peter in Louvain, who act on and in behalf of said Brotherhood—that is, Rase van Baussele as principal, Laureys van Winghe, Reyner Stoop, and Staas Roelofs Beckere as the first party, and the painter, Master Dieric Bouts, as the second party, that he should make for them a precious altarpiece with scenes pertaining to the Holy Sacrament. In this altarpiece there shall be presented on the center panel the Supper of our Beloved Lord with his Twelve Apostles, and on each of the inner wings two representations from the Old Testament: 1) the Heavenly Bread, 2) Melchizedek, 3) Elijah, and 4) the Eating of the Paschal Lamb as described in the Old Covenant. On each of the outer wings there shall be one picture: on one, the scene with the Twelve Loaves which only the priests were allowed to eat, and on the other . . . [portion of text is lost]. And the aforementioned Master Dieric has contracted to make this altarpiece to the best of his ability, to spare neither labor nor time, but to do his utmost to demonstrate in it the art which God has bestowed on him, in such order and truth as the Reverend Masters Jan Vaernacker and Gillis Bailluwel, Professors of Theology, shall prescribe to him with regard to the aforementioned subjects. And it is understood that said Master Dieric, after having begun work on this altarpiece, shall not contract any other work of this kind until this one has been completed. For his work said Master Dieric shall be paid and receive the sum of two hundred Rhenish guilders of twenty stivers each: to wit, twenty-five Rhenish guilders as soon as he has begun to paint this altarpiece, and further, twenty-five Rhenish guilders during the next half year, fifty Rhenish guilders after completing the work, and the remaining one hundred Rhenish guilders during the following year. . . . But if, by the grace of God, the good
people should so amply demonstrate their charity and liberality toward said work that the above named sum can be paid in full to said Master Dieric for his completed work, and if that sum of money would otherwise lie unused in awaiting the aforementioned time limit, it has been contracted that said Master Dieric shall be paid in full as soon as he has fulfilled his obligation. This has been witnessed (in addition to the Reverend Professors mentioned before) by Claes van Sinte Goericx, Knight, Master Laureys van Maeldote, Priest, and Master Gheert Fabri, Schoolmaster.
* * * In your notebook, write a response to each of the following questions. Quote from this document as part of your answer to each question. After completing your written responses to the questions below, keep them in your notes portfolio, to use during our upcoming quiz as well as the final exam.
1. What did Dieric Bouts contract to make for the four administrators of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sacrament at the church of St. Peter in Louvain?
2. The contract specified the subject to be painted on the central panel. What was it?
3. Who would oversee the project, to make sure that the subjects were painted in “order and truth”?
* * *