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Fisenne Altarpiece

The Fisenne Altarpiece, also known as the Passion Altarpiece, is a winged polyptych made in the Netherlands around 1510. It belongs to the Antwerp altarpiece type, combining sculptural and painted elements, and is carved from polychromed and gilded oak. The work measures 2.04 meters high and 2.48 meters wide. Originally located in the chapel of Saint-Remi Church in Fisenne, Belgium, it is now one of the central exhibits at the Gaspar Museum in Arlon, where it has been on display since September 2004. When closed, it forms an inverted T-shape; when open, it shows New Testament scenes, including the Passion of Christ and the Seven Sacraments.

The Fisenne Altarpiece with gilded sculptural reliefs and painted side panels on a dark display stand.
The Fisenne Altarpiece, showing intricate gilded central reliefs flanked by painted panels.
June 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fisenne Altarpiece with six painted panels in a dark wooden frame
The closed Fisenne Altarpiece shown with six painted panels arranged in a dark wooden frame.
June 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lower register of the Fisenne Altarpiece showing gilded carved scenes with several figures gathered around an infant or basin.
The lower register of the Fisenne Altarpiece features gilded carved scenes arranged in recessed compartments.
July 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
A conservator examines the Fisenne Altarpiece while holding a brush and palette beside the painted carved panel.
The Fisenne Altarpiece during conservation work, with a conservator inspecting the painted carved scene.
July 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close-up of a burnt hand imprint on the Fisenne Altarpiece, showing dark carved wood and worn gold leaf.
Detail of one of the burnt hand marks on the Fisenne Altarpiece, with worn gilding and carved wood visible.
June 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleReredos of Fisenne
Typereredos / altarpiece / retable
SubtypeAntwerp altarpiece type; winged polyptych with movable wings
Alternative namesFisenne Altarpiece; Altarpiece of the Passion; Reredos of the Passion; Fisenne altar; Le retable de Fisenne

Historical context

Date of creationcirca 1510 / early 16th century
Place of productionAntwerp workshops, Antwerp, Netherlands
Artistic contextAn Antwerp altarpiece, within the line of Antwerp altarpieces; Antwerp works were regarded as models and a pinnacle of 16th-century craftsmanship, and the city's prestige influenced the design and monumentality of the work

Creator

MakersUnknown; made by multiple artisans including carvers, painters, and gilders
Workshop contextProduction was enabled by the status of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke

Materials

Primary materialoak
Surface treatmentpolychromed and gilded
Imported materialhigh-quality wood imported from the Baltic region

Discovery and provenance

Sale arrangementAfter several years of negotiations, the governor of Luxembourg Province agreed to carry out the repairs in exchange for the altarpiece
Subsequent movementAfter acquisition, the altarpiece was moved several times
AcquisitionThe governor of Luxembourg Province obtained the altarpiece
Commissioned forChurch of Saint-Rémi in Fisenne, Belgium
Reason for saleTo fund repairs to the church roof and vaults
Renaming of original siteThe Church of Saint-Rémi became the Saint-Remi Chapel in 1713
Original locationSaint-Rémi Church / Saint-Rémi Chapel, Fisenne, Belgium

Location and ownership

Current locationMusée Gaspar in Arlon, Belgium
Public display sinceSeptember 2004
Current statusOne of the museum's central exhibits / key pieces; still on display

Physical characteristics

PredellaLost / absent
StructureTwo shutters, each made of two hinged panels, flanking a central case divided into two registers
Architectural styleIncludes architectural elements reminiscent of Gothic architecture
Width2.48 m
Overall formIn the closed state, it has the shape of an inverted capital T
Height2.04 m
Niche depth24 cm

Appearance

Central crucifixion panelCrucifixion
Surviving sacramentsHoly Orders, Eucharist, and Penance
Outer moldingContains the Seven Sacraments
Function of shuttersThey accentuate a theatrical effect of presence for the viewer
Central upper registerCombined with the painted panels on the shutters to evoke episodes of the Passion of Christ
Central lower registerScenes from the childhood of Christ
Closed form imageryScenes from the Old Testament
Open form imageryScenes from the New Testament

Technique

Workshop marks18 open-hand guild marks made by inspectors of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke
Meaning of marksThey reproduce part of the city coat of arms and function as a quality label identifying Antwerp as the production center

History and restoration

Condition before restorationVisibly deteriorated by time; state of preservation was very concerning until 1993
Restoration in 1941Restored by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (IRPA)
Restoration in 1993The paintings in the panels were completely restored in Antwerp by Atelier Artikon for an exhibition on Antwerp altarpieces; missing areas were reconstructed to improve readability, using a very similar altarpiece as a model
Preserved original polychromyThe surviving polychromy on the sculptures is original, from the beginning of the 16th century

Significance

Artistic significanceConsidered a true masterpiece; the survival of original polychromy on the sculptures is rare and remarkable

Category

Categoriesaltars; 16th-century works; Art of Antwerp; Arlon

Other

Related publicationsGuillaume Emilie and Zeippen Laetitia, Le retable de Fisenne. Joyau des collections du Musée Gaspar, vol. 1, Arlon, series "Les incontournables du Musée Gaspar", August 2016 (forthcoming at the time of the source); Marjan Buyle and Christine Vanthillo, Retables flamands et brabançons dans les monuments belges, Brussels, Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, series "M & L cahier, 4", 1999, 256 pages, ISBN 90-403-0104-2; Brigitte de Patoul and Roger Van Schoute (eds.), Les Primitifs flamands et leur temps, Tournai, La Renaissance du Livre, 2000, 656 pages, 33 cm, ISBN 2-8041-2013-9
EventHeritage Days (journées du patrimoine), weekend of the 10th, theme: religious and philosophical heritage; the reredos of Fisenne is featured in guided tours