Found in the workshop of Gonzalo Perez, in the city of Puerto Mingalvo, “Altarpiece with Scenes from the Life of the Virgin,” measures 156″x113 3/4.” The artwork was created in 1420-30 and uses tempera and gold leaf on a wooden panel. Most of Perez’s work has been found in the Chapel of Santo Domingo in the Cathedral of Valencia. The painting, known as a retablo, as it consists of multiple scenes relating to one theme, depicts the life of the Virgin Mary in a non-chronological order.
Surrounding the wooden panel is a carved border with beautiful engravings of flowers and diamond encased leaves. On the left side of the wooden panel, “The Annunciation to the Virgin,” “The Adoration of the Kings,” and “The Ascension of Christ” can be found. In the center of the wooden panel, “The Death of the Virgin” and “The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Angels” are separated by a beautiful gold molding. To the right, “The Adoration of the Shepherds,” “The Resurrection of Christ,” and “The Pentecost” finish 2/3 of the painting. The bottom of the artwork consists of 9 small paintings that depict the entombment of Christ. In this, Perez shows the 8 saints: Anthony Abbot, Margaret, Peter, the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, Paul, Catherine of Alexandria, and John the Baptist, separated by the depiction of Christ being pulled from his tomb by an angel.
The style of this particular artwork is stylized as the figures in the painting have an iconic look to them with the use of halos. The artist uses golden halos to separate the holiness of Mary, the disciples, the angels, and Christ. Upon closer examination, the halos, made from gold leaf, have small carved details bestowed upon them.
However, one of the most interesting figures in the painting, is not that of Mary, but of Judas. Judas is painted with a bent head facing the sky and placed toward the back and in the corner of the different paintings. Many artists show Judas in this fashion, however, Judas is interesting in this piece as he is also shown with a halo, while many of said artists show him without the sign of holiness as he is known as the betrayer of Jesus.
The use of color in this piece is interesting as well. The rich colors of the painting are what stand out from anything else. It is these colors that also set the tone of the painting and help give the art a more stylized approach. Aside from flesh tones, Perez uses basic colors such as: red, purple, gold, white, black, and a sparseness of green.
Perez uses rich colors to not only accentuate the painting, but to show the differences in the people he is depicting. The artist uses reds to symbolize the saintliness of certain people. Red is used for accents in Mary, most of the disciples, the angels’ wings, and Christ. Purple in this particular piece, is used to symbolize royaty, as the kings are shown in purple-toned robes. Perhaps one of the most intriguing uses of color revolves around the Virgin Mary. She is shown wearing grey and black robes throughout the artwork, perhaps as a means of showing Mary’s class or perhaps the presence of Christ’s death. Perez shows Mary as wearing a white scarf around her head until Christ’s death, then a black scarf is shown.
Perez’s use of color mixed with the iconic look of the characters and the enormous size of the painting, draw the viewer to the scenes and immediately grab the attention of the audience. Size, color, engravings and moldings are all different elements of this magnificent piece of art that will impress upon every viewer a sense of astonishment.
