WEYDEN, Rogier van der
(b. 1400, Tournai, d. 1464, Bruxelles)

Braque Family Triptych (left wing)

c. 1450
Wood, 41 x 34 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

The picture shows the left wing of the Braque Family Triptych representing St John the Baptist.

The lower frame of pictures (original frame) act as a kind of ledge in front of the figures, where John the Baptist can rest his book. The words being spoken by the figures proceed from their mouths in curved scroll shapes, rather like the speech bubbles of modern strip cartoons. However, the text above the Magdalene, but not spoken by her, is written in a straight line.