Artwork
Panel with the Angel Appearing to Zacharias (from a Retable depicting Saint John the Baptist and scenes from his life)
Panel with the Angel Appearing to Zacharias (from a Retable depicting Saint John the Baptist and scenes from his life) is a tempera painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Domingo Ram. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the miraculous nature of the prophecy, conveying themes of divine intervention and the fulfillment of scriptural promise.
The panel depicts the biblical episode in which an archangel announces to the priest Zechariah the impending birth of his son, John the Baptist. The scene unfolds within a sacred interior, where the standing angel delivers the divine message while Zechariah, positioned before an altar, receives the revelation with reverent attention. The composition emphasizes the miraculous nature of the prophecy, conveying themes of divine intervention and the fulfillment of scriptural promise.
The iconography centers on the angel’s gesture and the priest’s humble posture, underscoring the sacred dialogue between heaven and earth.
Technique & Style
Created by Domingo Ram around 1500, this religious panel painting utilizes tempera as its primary medium applied to a wooden support. The work measures 95.3 cm in height and 69.2 cm in width, presenting a vertical rectangular format typical of retable components. Stylistically, the piece depicts the Annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah, featuring figures such as an angel, a saint, and a man within a devotional context.
As part of a larger retable dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the artwork adheres to the conventions of early 16th-century Spanish religious art, focusing on clear narrative representation through the tempera technique on panel.
History & Provenance
The work titled Panel with the Angel Appearing to Zacharias, part of a retable devoted to Saint John the Baptist, was executed in 1500 by the Spanish painter Domingo Ram. It is a tempera panel measuring 95.3 × 69.2 cm and depicts the Annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah. The painting is classified as religious art and has been housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art since its acquisition, where it remains on display.
The Panel with the Angel Appearing to Zacharias is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While specific accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the museum categorizes this tempera-on-panel work as a religious painting by the artist Domingo Ram, created circa 1500. The piece, which measures 95.3 cm in height and 69.2 cm in width, forms part of the institution's holdings of European religious art.
The provided sources do not contain details regarding a specific inventory number or a documented history of public exhibitions for this particular panel.
Overview
This tempera painting, created by Domingo Ram around 1500, depicts a pivotal moment from the life of Saint John the Baptist. Titled Panel with the Angel Appearing to Zacharias, it was originally part of a larger altarpiece dedicated to the saint. The work is characterized by its detailed rendering of figures and religious narrative, and it is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Context
This panel was conceived as one component of a larger retable, an altarpiece designed to adorn a church altar and narrate episodes from the life of Saint John the Baptist. Such multi-panel works served as focal points for devotion and instruction, visually reinforcing religious doctrines for congregants. Its creation in 1500 places it at the cusp of the High Renaissance, reflecting enduring Gothic traditions alongside emerging artistic trends.
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Artist & collection
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