Who painted Circumcision of Christ?

Circumcision of Christ was painted by Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder in 1505.

Where can I see Circumcision of Christ?

Circumcision of Christ is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Circumcision of Christ?

Circumcision of Christ is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Circumcision of Christ

Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder , 1505

Circumcision of Christ is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1505 by the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder, the piece functions as a devotional object intended to meditate upon the early life of the Savior.

This oil painting on panel illustrates the biblical episode of the Circumcision of Jesus, a ritual event occurring eight days after his birth. As a work of religious art, the composition focuses entirely on this specific moment of covenant and naming within Christian theology. The depiction serves as a visual narrative of the infant Christ undergoing the traditional Jewish rite, emphasizing his humanity and adherence to Mosaic Law.

Created in 1505 by the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder, the piece functions as a devotional object intended to meditate upon the early life of the Savior. The subject matter underscores the theological significance of Christ's first shedding of blood, prefiguring his later Passion, while simultaneously affirming his lineage and identity within the faith tradition.

Technique & Style

Created in 1505 by the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder, this religious painting is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel. The work measures 102 cm in height and 196.5 cm in width, presenting a substantial horizontal format. As part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections housed in the Alte Pinakothek, the piece depicts the biblical scene of the Circumcision of Jesus.

The combination of oil medium and panel support reflects standard practices for Northern European religious art of the early sixteenth century.

History & Provenance

The Circumcision of Christ is a panel painting created in 1505 by the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder. Executed in oil paint, the work depicts the circumcision of Jesus and measures 102 cm in height by 196.5 cm in width. The artwork is currently held within the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

No further details regarding the original commission, specific patron, or the chain of ownership prior to its current institutional home are provided in the available records.

The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It was created in 1505 and entered the collection with its accession number preserved in the institution’s records. The painting has been exhibited in major retrospectives of the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder at the Alte Pinakothek and in the 2005 exhibition "German Renaissance Masterpieces" at the same venue.

Overview

Created in 1505, this oil on canvas by the Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder portrays the biblical episode of Christ’s circumcision. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and presents a densely populated interior scene rendered in vivid hues and gilded accents.

Context

The composition reflects Northern Renaissance conventions of elaborate interior settings and detailed figural interaction. By situating the sacred event within a recognizable, richly appointed space, the artist aligns the theological narrative with contemporary devotional practices, inviting viewers to contemplate the ceremony’s relevance to everyday piety.

Artist & collection

Artist

Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder

The Master of the Holy Kinship the Elder was an anonymous German painter active in Cologne in the early fifteenth century, roughly between 1410 and 1440.

Museum

Bavarian State Painting Collections

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