Going for Gold

Glittering three week online course from Richard Stemp on the use of gold in paintings in the International Gothic and early Renaissance periods.

In the first week we looked at the use of gold on early works in the National Gallery. Richard explained the different techniques  and showing us different examples of how it was used. He talked about the practical function of gold to reflect the candle light in the dark churches and led us though the iconography of a series of images.

This all set us up to study two specific pictures over the next two weeks, The Wilton Diptych from 1395-99 and Carlo Crivelli’s Annunciation from nearly 100 years later in 1486. The former is a more traditional gold picture showing King Richard II with the patron saints of England kneeling before the Virgin and a troupe of angels. Richard talked us through the religious and political iconography of work. The later is mainly painted but uses gold to pick out the ray of light and the dove representing the Holy Spirit. He talked us though the fascinating commissioning of this work and the symbolism of the objects shown.

The Wilton Diptych and the Crivelli Annunciation are some of my favourite pictures in the National Gallery so it was delightful to spend time with these works at home and yet again I can’t wait to get back to the gallery.

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