Antwerps retable in Capela dos Reis Magos, Estreito da Calheta, Madeira
21 September 2013. Location: private chapel Capela dos Reis Magos in Estreito da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal. It's a Flemish retable (retabel / retabulo / retabulum) or altarpiece created assumably in the 1520s in Antwerp and was ordered specifically for this chapel. The retable consists of a sculptured scene carved in wood of the three kings visiting the newly born Jesus. The cabinet rests on a painted foot section (predella) with references to the suffering of Jesus and thus the suffering of Maria / Mary has been painted as well. On both sides of the central cabinet are door panels, painted on both sides. On the inner panels (open) the commisioners of the piece are depicted. On the left the man with his patron saint and on the right the woman with her patron saint. On the outer panels (closed) the announcement of the birth of Christ has been depicted: the archangel Gabriel scares Maria / Mary. The retable is in good condition and still in its original state. The series of pictures has been taken for scientific research (art historical) of Flemish retables and will be used by one of the world's leading scientists in this field as well as for reference for restauration of a Brussels retable. All dimensions of the retable and predella have been measured as well. On request, they can be provided. The photos are under a Creative Commons license (see details with the photo on Flickr). If you want to use these photos for research, (scientific) publication or otherwise, please do contact me. You will be granted to use them, however, I would like to receive the proper credit for these photos. For commercial use, please do contact me.