Union Master

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Union Master: Richly redorated vaults in Undløse Church (c. 1430)

The Union Master (Danish: Unionsmesteren), also Master of Undløse (Danish: Undløsemesteren), is the name given to an anonymous artist active in Denmark in the first half of the 15th century when he and his workshop decorated churches with frescoes of unusually high artistic quality.[1]

Biography

The Union Master was active from c. 1410 to 1440 in Denmark and perhaps also in the south of Sweden. The frescoes in Undløse Church in northwestern Zealand depict the principal events in the life of Jesus Christ beginning with the Nativity based on the vision of St Bridget of Sweden (1303–1373) who is also shown in the scene. The childhood of St Lawrence, the patron saint of Undløse, is also presented. Grotesque figures can also be seen, probably as a warning against unseemly living. The fresco of St George and the Dragon in nearby Rørby Church is also considered to be of high artistic value. Those in Nødebo Church near Hillerød are particularly well executed, especially that of the Coronation of Mary.[2][3]

The Undløse workshop is considered to have a higher artistic standard than its contemporaries. The figures are plastic, the faces specific and the costumes carefully chosen. The landscapes and buildings have perspective while shading creates emphasis. The ornamental decoration is elegant consisting primalily of a rod, encircled with a broad ribbon and a spiralled vine with twigs of spruce. The artwork appears to have been inspired by the Bohemian Master of Wittingau (c. 1380) or the Wesphalian Conrad von Soest while the artists themselves may have been foreign.[4][2]

Relationship with the Master of Fogdö

It has been suggested that the Union Master may also be responsible for the frescoes in Fogdö Church and in Strängnäs Cathedral in southern Sweden. The artist behind these is known in Sweden as the Master of Fogdö (Swedish: Fogdömästaren) but while there are similarities, especially in the figures, there are also differences making identification uncertain and calling for further research. The name Union Master does however originate from the political unification between Denmark and Sweden at the time.[5][2]

  • Adoration of the Magi, Nødebo

  • Execution of Joan of Arc, Nødebo

  • Coronation of Mary, Nødebo

  • The Nativity and Brigit of Sweden, Undløse

  • Soldier sleeping beside the grave, Undløse

  • The devil with the infant Lawrence, Undløse

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Unionsmesteren", Den Store Danske. (Danish) Retrieved 10 January 2013-
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bodil Franck, "Undløsemesteren", Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs kunstnerleksikon. (Danish) Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Bo Nielsen, Aksel Willadsen, "Nødebo kirke", Nødebo menighedsråd, 1983. (Danish) Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Undløse Kirke", in Marie-Louise Jørgensen, Hugo Johannsen: Danmarks Kirker IV: Holbæk Amt, vol 1, 1979, Nationalmuseets Forlag, pages 357-398. (Danish) Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Master of Fogdö", The Concise Grove Dictionary of Art. Oxford 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
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