Deposition (left wing of a diptych) 1490

Hans Memling painted this panel, Deposition, one half of a diptych, in Bruges probably in the 1480s, when the city was a commercial powerhouse. The painting is full of visual and historical clues. Memling's patrons, often wealthy merchants, would have understood the Christian symbolism of the Deposition, in which the body of Christ is removed from the cross. But they might also have been interested in how it mirrored their own social status: the careful detail of the fabrics, the serene faces, and the overall composition, all spoke to a wealthy, well-ordered society. We can also look at the politics of imagery. Bruges, a city of trade and banking, was also deeply religious. By commissioning art like this, merchants could show their piety and contribute to the city's cultural landscape. Art historians consult patronage records and look into the economic and social history of places like Bruges to better understand art as a product of its time and place.