Why should we like Quinten Massys’s painting An Old Woman (‘The Ugly Duchess’)?
‘An Old Woman’ (also known as ‘The Ugly Duchess’) is a significant work of art. This painting challenges traditional beauty standards and reflects the emergence of grotesque as a subject matter in painting. Some believe that “The Ugly Duchess” is a satire of older people who try to cling to their youth. I believe that there is a deeper narrative.
The Ugly Duchess portrays an elderly figure with unconventional features, including enlarged bones, extended upper lip, pushed-up nose, and affected hands, eyes, forehead, chin, and collar bones. Experts believe this was due to Paget’s disease.
Despite its unconventional subject matter and the initial negative response from some critics, the painting has stood the test of time and continues to be admired for its innovation and boldness.
The Ugly Duchess reminds me that the concept of beauty is complex and multifaceted. When we appreciate imperfections and flaws, we open ourselves to see beauty in the raw and unpolished aspects of life. It is through this lens that we find beauty in the unexpected and discover hidden gems that are often overlooked.
“This must be one of the most arresting faces in the National Gallery’s Collection. An elderly woman with lively eyes set deep in their sockets, a snub nose, wide nostrils, pimply skin, a hairy mole, bulging forehead and a prominent square chin rests one hand on a marble parapet. Her neck is rumpled by age and she seems to have lost all her teeth. She is elegantly and aristocratically dressed, although by the time this picture was painted her clothes would have been many decades out of date and her cleavage considered scandalous. She brazenly challenges every traditional canon of beauty and rule of propriety.” National Gallery
Quentin Massys was a Flemish painter born in Leuven, Belgium in 1466. He was trained as a blacksmith but, there is a legend that states that he fell in love with an artist’s daughter and began studying painting. He is considered the founder of the Antwerp school of painting and introduced new techniques and motifs to his works.
Quentin Massys specialized in religious and satirical motifs and often used Christian symbols and emblems to convey his message. He is known for his famous satirical works, including “Portrait of an Old Man” and “The Money Changer and His Wife“.