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Red, White and Blue in some Artworks (Hamburg) jwr

Researching the symbolism of red, white and blue I visited the museum Hamburger Kunsthalle in

Hamburg, where the Grabow Altarpiece is exhibited1. This masterpiece uses a set of bright colors,

which is being dominated by red and blue to symbolize antipodes such as salt and sweet waters,Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel.

The flag of Schleswig-Holstein is a horizontal tricolor of blue, white, and red. The plain tricolor is

the state's civil flag. The tricolor was previously used for the Prussian  province of Schleswig-

Holstein (1868-1946).

Red and white have played the most important role in Hanseatic symbolism. Some of the flags for 

modern Hanseatic cities (example: flag of Rostock) are using red, white and blue.

Hanseatic flags are the banners of Hanseatic cities, that were flown by cogs and other ships

of the Hanseatic league.

Originally, Hanseatic ships displayed red gonfalones on their masts, which had a cross at its

 peak to denote the protection of the sovereign. Red was also the colour used by Danish and

English shipping, the English later adopting the St George's Cross. From the second half of 

the 13th century, the individual Hanseatic cities created various banners to distinguish

themselves from other member cities. The red gonfalone remained in use in addition to these

flags. The oldest Hanseatic flag is the plain red banner used by Hamburg. Hanseatic flags

were mostly red-white and some featured symbols, such as crosses. 2 

1 This work is in the  public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the

author plus 100 years or less. 2 Hanseatic flags

 Fig. 1: Grabow Altarpiece (from Wikipedia Commons)

 Fig. 3: flag of Schleswig-

 Holstein Fig. 2: Flag of Rostock 

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Master Bertram von Minden (1379 -1383)

The divine Being has been painted in red and blue, which may refer to some biblical quotations in

Exodus and Chronicles3.

 Master Bertram von Minden worked in Hamburg, painting in various churches towards the end of 

the 14th century. "The panel of the high altar of St. Peter in Hamburg was made in 1379 -1383.According to an entry in the Hamburg Chronicles the artist was named Bertram of Mynden.

3 Liturgical (and Royal) Colours and Symbolism in Antipodal Colors

 Fig. 4: Master Bertram von Minden (1379 -1383) – Miniature copy

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Dividing the Waters

In the beginning the Creator divided the waters. Whereas God is painted in red, green and blue

antipodes sweet and salt waters have been painted red respectively blue.

 Fig. 5: Creator dividing the waters

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Adam and Eve as antipodes

As antipodes Master Bertram paints Adam in blue and Eve in red and white.

 Fig. 6 Master Bertram - Adam in blue and Eve in red.

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Cain and Abel as antipodes

As antipodes Master Bertram paints Abel in blue (with some traces of red) and (with some traces

of green). Abel is slain with the help of a jaw.

Compared to Adam & Abel (dressed in blue) and Eve & Cain (dressed in red) it might be suggested

that in a singular dress-code the symbolic color red might have been reserved for evil and blue for the good.

 Fig. 7: Abel in blue and Cain in red 

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Mary's coronation

In Mary's coronation Mary has been painted as a saint, dressed in red and blue.

 Fig. 8: Coronation of Mary

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Choir of the New Church by Gerard Houckgeest (1650)

The New Church in Delft with the tomb of William I, Prince of Orange has been painted with a flag

in red, white and blue.

 Fig. 9: Choir of the New Church by Gerard Houckgeest (1650), detail 

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Three Children by Blathazar Denner (1721-1725)

The Three Children of Barthold Hinrich Brockes (by Blathazar Denner, 1721-1725) have been

 painted in red, gray, white and blue.

The boy at the left side is wearing red clothes and carries blue fruits. The girl at the right side is

dressed in blue and white, decorated with red flowers.

 Fig. 10: Three Children by Blathazar Denner (1721-1725) – own photograph

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Rest on the Flight to Egypt – by Philipp Otto Runge,1805-1808

Runge painted Mary in bright red and white garments and Joseph in a blue robe.

Among Runge's accepted tenets was that "as is known, there are only three colors, yellow,

red, and blue" (letter to Goethe of July 3, 1806). His goal was to establish the complete

world of colors resulting from mixture of the three, among themselves and together with

white and black 4.

 

4 Philipp_Otto_Runge

 Fig. 11: A rest on the road to Egypt, Philipp Otto Runge , 1805-1808, public domain 

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Phryne before the Areopagus (1861)

In Phryne  before the Areopagus, 1861 the judges are dressed in red, whereas a snow-white-colored

Phryne had been unveiled from a blue veil, removed by her attorney dressed in blue/white clothing.

Basically the antipodes are wearing red and blue.

The snow-white Phryne is to be compared to the golden statuette labeled “Athena”.

Phryne's real name was Mnēsarétē (Μνησαρέτη, "commemorating virtue"), but owing to

her yellowish complexion she was called Phrýnē ("toad"). This was a nickname frequently

given to other courtesans and prostitutes as well5.

5 Wikipedia: Phryne

 Fig. 12: Phryne before the Areopagus, 1861

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Ailantery, Böcklin (1886)

In Ailantery the sacred fire is painted in bright red-white (flames) and a mystic blue (smoke). It is a

rather unusual sight to see such a definite blue smoke instead of the normal black/gray color.

The symbolism of the colors for the blue (black) smoke and the bright flame (bright white) mayhave been explained as related to the tetragrammaton in the Zohar:

Said Rabbi Simeon: What I have discoursed on has reference to the secret doctrine and its

teachings of the mystery of the divine wisdom united with the divine essence. Thus the final

H in the tetragrammaton corresponds to the dark or blue flame united with the three letters

 preceding it, I H V, making the white flame a light. Sometimes the dark is designated by the

letter D, and other times by H. When Israel below is not living the divine life, it is

characterized by D; but when it becomes conjoined with the white light, then it takes on

itself the letter H; as it is written, 'If a damsel, a virgin, be betrothed' (Deuter. xxii-23). The

word Naarah (damsel) is here written without the feminine termination H contrary to

grammatical rule, naar being the male and naarah the female. Wherefore is it so written?

Because she has not as yet come into union with the union with the male, and whenever this

is the case the final H is found wanting. For a similar reason the dark or blue flame is

designated by the letter Daleth, or D. When, however, it becomes conjoined with the white

flame above it, it is represented by the letter He or H, for then a perfect union is effected in

this sense, that the two become blended together (symbolizing thus the union of the lower 

and higher nature).

"Similar is the occult meaning of the smoke ascending from altars whereon sacrifices are

offered up. It provokes into flame the blue light beneath it which, when it flashes forth and

 burns, becomes conjoined with the white flame above it and then as in the flame of a candle

 becomes or forms one whole and perfect light, and as it is the nature of the blue flame to

consume that from which it emanates so does it consume the sacrifices placed on the altar 6 .

6  Zohar : Genesis: Chapter XXIX  And “Metaphors of Sacrifice in the Zohar ” - an essay by T. A. Perry

 Fig. 13: Ailantery, Böcklin (1886)

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Madonna in Blue, Nolde, Emil (1912)

In a modern triptych Holy Mary of Egypt, created by  Nolde, Emil  (1912) I found a Madonna in

traditional blue with a red-colored child.

 Fig. 14: Madonna in Blue with a red child 

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Modern works in red and blue

Modern works include  Nay's Red and  Blue, 19587, which probably is protected by copyrights and

may be found in web-pages.

7 Collection Display: Art from the 1950s - Hamburger Kunsthalle 

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ContentsMaster Bertram von Minden (1379 -1383)..........................................................................................2

Dividing the Waters.........................................................................................................................3

Adam and Eve as antipodes.............................................................................................................4

Cain and Abel as antipodes..............................................................................................................5

Mary's coronation............................................................................................................................6

Choir of the New Church by Gerard Houckgeest (1650).....................................................................7Three Children by Blathazar Denner (1721-1725)...............................................................................8

Rest on the Flight to Egypt – by Philipp Otto Runge,1805-1808........................................................9

Phryne before the Areopagus (1861)..................................................................................................10

Ailantery, Böcklin (1886)...................................................................................................................11

Madonna in Blue, Nolde, Emil (1912)...............................................................................................12

Modern works in red and blue............................................................................................................13