Artwork
Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar
Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona. It dates from 1495 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of these characters functions iconographically to convey Nebuchadnezzar's sovereign authority.
The work titled Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar, painted by Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona in 1495 using tempera on panel, illustrates key moments from the Babylonian king's narrative. According to the sources, the composition includes a regal figure identified as the king, a martial presence interpreted as a soldier, and an additional male figure, suggesting a narrative of power and conquest. The juxtaposition of these characters functions iconographically to convey Nebuchadnezzar's sovereign authority. The panel's small scale is consistent with a narrative or predella painting of the Italian Renaissance.
Technique & Style
Created in 1495, Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar is executed in tempera on a wooden panel support. The work measures 32.4 cm in height and 36.8 cm in width. As a painting by Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona, the piece utilizes the tempera medium to depict narrative figures, including the king, soldiers, and other men.
The format is typical of small panel paintings from the late 15th century, with pigments bound in egg on wood reflecting standard artistic practices of the Italian Renaissance.
History & Provenance
The painting Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar was created in 1495 by Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona using tempera on panel. It is documented as a work of the Italian Renaissance, measuring 32.4 cm × 36.8 cm, and depicts narrative scenes of the Babylonian king. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's records, the piece entered the museum's collection, making the Met the current owner.
The recorded provenance therefore begins with its execution by d'Ancona in 1495 and culminates in its acquisition and preservation by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Overview
Created by Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona in 1495, Scenes from the Life of King Nebuchadnezzar is a tempera painting structured as a triptych. This multi-paneled work illustrates various episodes from the biblical narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar, presenting a sequential visual story. The artwork is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into late 15th-century Italian painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona
Nicola di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona (1460–1511) was an artist, born in Ancona.
- Predella with scenes from the Life of the Saint
Mary Magdalene predella
scene con storie degli argonauti
Petrus heilt einen Lahmen
strage degli innocenti
Stories of St. Nicholas. Saint Nicholas presenting Gifts to Three Pool girls
The Story of Lucretia
The Assassination and Funeral of Julius Caesar
Christ's Charge to St Peter
Martyrium of saint Andrew
The Story of Esther
Triumph of Alexander
