Justus van Gent facts for kids
Justus van Gent (born around 1410, died around 1480) was an important painter from the Netherlands. His real name was Joos van Wassenhove. After learning and working in Flanders (part of modern-day Belgium), he moved to Italy. There, he worked for Federico da Montefeltro, a powerful duke in Urbino. In Italy, he was known as Giusto da Guanto.
Justus van Gent is famous for his religious paintings. These works show the style of early Netherlandish art. He also painted a series of portraits of famous men. These portraits show that he was influenced by the new ideas of the Italian Renaissance.
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Life of Justus van Gent
We don't know much about the early life of Joos van Wassenhove. People believe that the painter called 'Giusto da Guanto' (meaning 'Justus of Ghent') was indeed Joos van Wassenhove. He became a member of the painters' guild in Antwerp in 1460. By 1464, he was a master painter in Ghent.
While in Ghent, he helped other artists like Hugo van der Goes join the local painters' guild. It seems he was well-known, as he was paid to create 40 coats of arms for the Pope in 1467–68. Van Wassenhove traveled to Rome around 1470.
Between 1473 and 1475, he worked in Urbino, Italy. He had his own art workshop there. He was one of the official painters for Duke Federico da Montefeltro. The Duke was a very important leader and supported many artists during the Italian Renaissance.
Duke da Montefeltro asked him to paint the Communion of the Apostles. This painting was for a religious group in Urbino and was finished between 1472 and 1474. The painting even includes a portrait of Duke da Montefeltro himself. Van Wassenhove also helped decorate the Duke's homes in Urbino and Gubbio.
One of his big projects was a series of portraits called 'uomini famosi' (famous men). These were for the Duke's study room. Justus van Gent died around 1480.
Artworks by Justus van Gent
Two of his paintings from before he moved to Italy are still around. These are the large Crucifixion Altarpiece (also called Calvary Triptych) in Ghent and the Devotion of the Kings in New York. The Devotion of the Kings might have been made for a church in Spain. It was painted on canvas so it could be rolled up and moved easily.
Both of these early paintings are very grand and large. The faces of the people and the colors he used are similar to the style of Hugo van der Goes. It's likely that these two artists worked together before van Wassenhove went to Italy. His work also shows links to the painter Dieric Bouts.
His painting Communion of the Apostles (also known as The Institution of the Eucharist) for the church in Urbino shows some changes in his style. He started to make the figures larger compared to the painting space. In this painting, Jesus Christ is shown with a bright halo around his head.
Famous Men Series
Justus van Gent is also known for a series of 28 portraits called Famous men. These paintings are now in museums in Paris and Urbino. Many people believe van Wassenhove painted them. The paintings look like they were made by an artist who knew Netherlandish painting techniques but was also strongly influenced by Italian art.
Also, the Duke's former librarian, Vespasiano da Bisticci, wrote that van Wassenhove created this series of 28 portraits. Scientists have studied the Famous men paintings. They found that the way they were drawn underneath is similar to his other big work for the Duke, the Communion of the Apostles. This suggests a similar style.
However, some people don't agree that van Wassenhove painted all of the Famous men series. Some think the Spanish painter Pedro Berruguete might have painted them. It's possible that the work was a team effort by van Wassenhove's workshop in Urbino, and Berruguete might have helped.
Justus van Gent is also believed to have painted two works from a series about the liberal arts: Music and Rhetoric. These are now in the National Gallery in London. Two other paintings from this series were sadly lost during World War II.
Works
- Adoration of the Magi
- Calvary Triptych
- Communion of the Apostles
- Famous Men
- Liberal Arts
Images for kids
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Communion of the Apostles
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Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro with His Son Guidobaldo, from the Famous men series
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Ptolemy with an armillary sphere model, from the Famous men series
See also
In Spanish: Justo de Gante para niños
