Description
The painting Crossing the River Styx by artist Joachim Patenier is a 16th-century masterpiece depicting the crossing of the River Styx, which was believed to separate the world of the living from the world of the dead in Greek mythology. The work measures 64 x 103 cm and is currently in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
One of the most interesting aspects of this painting is the artistic style in which it is made. Patenier was one of the first Flemish artists to adopt the landscape as an independent genre, and in this work we can see how the landscape is the absolute protagonist. The composition is divided into three parts: in the upper part we see the sky with dark stormy clouds, in the center the river Styx with the boatman Charon and the souls of the dead, and in the lower part the earthly landscape with mountains, trees and houses.
Color is another outstanding aspect of this work. Patenier uses a palette of cold and dark colors, which reinforce the feeling of mystery and terror associated with death and the underworld. Green and blue tones predominate in the landscape, while human figures and the souls of the dead are represented in darker, more muted tones.
The history of the painting is also fascinating. It is believed to have been commissioned by Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, who purchased it in Antwerp in 1520. For many years the work was thought to be by Patinir's hand, but it was later discovered to have been painted by his workshop. Despite this, the quality of the work is undoubted and it remains one of the most outstanding works of the Flemish Renaissance.
Finally, a little-known aspect of this painting is that it has been the subject of numerous interpretations over the centuries. Some have interpreted it as an allegory of death and the final judgment, while others have seen it as a criticism of the corruption of the Catholic Church. What is clear is that Crossing the River Styx is a work of great beauty and depth, which continues to fascinate lovers of art and culture centuries after its creation.