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Artwork

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus

Pieter Pourbus , 1550

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus, by Pieter Pourbus, oil, 1550
Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus, by Pieter Pourbus, oil, 1550

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Pieter Pourbus. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Together the two panels would have flanked a central image, typically a Crucifixion or Madonna, that the donors were imagined to be contemplating.

The two surviving wings of this 1550 triptych by Pieter Pourbus unite donor portraiture with sacred intercession, a common devotional format in Netherlandish painting. The male donor is paired with John the Baptist, while the female donor is accompanied by St. Adrian of Nicomedia, each saint serving as a heavenly patron and model of virtue for the layperson beside him. John the Baptist, associated with penitence, baptism, and witness to Christ, lends spiritual gravity to the male portrait, while St. Adrian, a Roman soldier-saint venerated as a martyr, frames the woman within a tradition of steadfast faith.

Such wings functioned as protective intermediaries, presenting the patrons in pious association with holy figures. Together the two panels would have flanked a central image, typically a Crucifixion or Madonna, that the donors were imagined to be contemplating.

Technique & Style

The two wings are executed in oil paint on panel, a support characteristic of mid-sixteenth-century Netherlandish portraiture. Each wing is a tall, narrow vertical format measuring 91 cm in height by 29 cm in width, dimensions consistent with their function as hinged flanks of a triptych. The composition pairs a portrait of a man with John the Baptist on one wing and a portrait of a woman with St. Adrianus on the other, integrating donor figures with their patron saints in the conventional arrangement used for devotional triptych wings of the period.

History & Provenance

The wings are dated to 1550, within Pieter Pourbus's career in Bruges. They are held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where they remain. The work is executed in oil paint on panel and pairs a portrait of a man with John the Baptist and a portrait of a woman with St. Adrianus.

No archival evidence connects them directly to a named patron or documented commission, and no specific inventory number or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.

Overview

This oil painting, created by the Flemish Renaissance artist Pieter Pourbus around 1550, comprises two panels that once formed the wings of a triptych. Titled Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus, the work combines portraiture with religious iconography. It depicts a male and female sitter, each presented alongside their respective patron saint, reflecting a common practice in Northern European art of the period.

Context

Pieter Pourbus was a prominent painter active in Bruges during the 16th century, a period when the city was a significant artistic center in the Low Countries. His work is firmly rooted in the Flemish Renaissance tradition, which emphasized meticulous detail, rich color, and a blend of secular and sacred themes. This triptych fragment reflects the artistic trends and patronage practices prevalent in the region during Pourbus's career.

Two Wings of a Triptych with Portraits of Donors with Saints Adrian and John the Baptist
Two Wings of a Triptych with Portraits of Donors with Saints Adrian and John the Baptist

Artist & collection

Portrait of Pieter Pourbus

Artist

Pieter Pourbus

Pieter Jansz. Pourbus (c. 1523–1584) was a Flemish Renaissance painter, draftsman, engineer and cartographer who was active in Bruges during the 16th century. He is known primarily for his religious and portrait paintings.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Rijksmuseum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus?

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus was painted by Pieter Pourbus in 1550-01-01.

Where can I see Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus?

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus?

Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus?

Museum-quality prints of Two wings of a triptych, with the portraits of a man and a woman, accompanied respectively by John the Baptist and St. Adrianus are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.