Gold – IMS Photography

St Jerome and St Ambrose

Ian Malpass-Scott — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:36:00 +0000

Juan de Borgoña, or his ancestors, probably originated in Burgundy. However, after a visit to Italy, he moved onto Spain, settling in Toledo in 1495 with a well developed early Renaissance style. His pictures were popular for their vivid colours and skilful depiction of costume. The gold and silver that was imported into Spain, from the newly discovered Americas, made the country one of the wealthiest powers in the world during the 16t century. The tooled gold backgrounds in these works are characteristic of Castilian painting from this period.

Together with St Jerome and St Ambrose, St Augustine and St Gregory were celebrated as the Fathers of the Church and were often represented in the wings of altarpieces.

These paintings once belonged to Alejandro Mon who was the Spanish Ambassador in Paris for a number of years during the 1850s and 1860s. He was a close friend of the Conde de Quinto from whose collection John and Joséphine acquired these paintings in 1862.

Provenance: bequeathed by the Founders, 1885

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
Material: Tempera and gold on panel
Artist: Juan de Borgoña (active 1494-1536)
Date: 1510

Image Details
Date: 7 Feb 2025
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Bowes Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.

St Luke

Ian Malpass-Scott — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:36:00 +0000

St Luke was one of the four evangelists and is believed to have been a painter. He therefore became the patron saint of painters and is often shown with a brush and easel. Luke, Matthew, Mark and John each wrote a gospel, which are the books in the Bible telling the story of the life of Christ. The evangelists are thus often depicted writing, as in this work.

Provenance: 2002.10, Given by Mrs. Linda Murray in memory of her husband, Professor Peter Murray, through the Art Fund.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
Material: Oil on oak panel
Artist: Juan Pantoja de la Cruz (1554-1608)
Date: Unknown

Image Details
Date: 7 Feb 2025
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 600
Licensing: Image of a Bowes Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Holy Motherhood

Ian Malpass-Scott — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 16:43:00 +0000

This is a fine example of Thomas Gotch’s large, semi-religious paintings on the theme of motherhood. The frontal composition, use of gold, and the halo-like effect above the mother’s head all have similarities with Italian 15th century religious paintings. Musicians and singers take the place of music-making angels found in religious art. Thomas Gotch lived among the artists of the Newlyn School in Cornwall for many years, but his approach had little in common with their open-air figure scenes.

Provenance: Purchased from the artist, 1910

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil and gold on canvas
Artist: Thomas Cooper Gotch (1854-1931)
Date: 1784

Image Details
Date: 27 January 2024
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO: 250
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.