Majesty

Our latest work is called Majesty. This piece emerged from our fascination with portraits from the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. In medieval painting, systematic knowledge of perspective was still lacking. As a result, interiors and clothing were often depicted flatly but richly filled with patterns. The texture of the fabric, or the way it draped over the shoulders, was of secondary importance. The detailing lay in the pattern itself.

Only in the early Renaissance did perspective begin to make its entrance, yet the legacy of medieval ornamentation remained palpable. Filled with gold and motifs that demanded as much attention as the portrait itself, an iconic figure often emerged: a paragon of power and wealth.

The same goes for Carlo Crivelli’s Mary Magdalene, a masterpiece of the early Renaissance that forms the foundation of Majesty. Crivelli managed to weave perspective and realism together with spiritual meaning.
He often used natural motifs, such as flowers and butterflies, to depict themes like transience and transformation, or rather, growth and change. We have translated this work from an imagination rooted in the narrative of the Christian faith into a stately, rich, and powerful image. It conveys a sense of order, monumentality, and harmony. In both technique and approach, Majesty aligns meticulously and artisanally with our earlier works, such as The Earth Laughs in Flower, Bang Bang, and Cinderella. Here too, an image was constructed from hundreds of carefully photographed flowers and twigs.

Craftmanship

At Chinnoe & Vlemmix, every work begins with something small. A flower, a leaf, a tiny branch. With care and attention, we capture each of these in our own photography. In this way, we build a library of natural forms: flowers, branches, grains, leaves, and even butterflies.

Then the craft begins. Every element is woven into graceful, rhythmic patterns reminiscent of medieval manuscripts and centuries-old decorative motifs. No algorithm, no mass production, just pure patience, an eye for detail, and a love for the material. This is how a work emerges that not only celebrates nature but also the timeless rhythm of making itself.