Artwork
Altarpiece with The Passion of Christ
Altarpiece with The Passion of Christ is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1440 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is a religious altarpiece devoted to the Passion of Christ, presenting the narrative of his suffering and crucifixion as its central subject.
The work is a religious altarpiece devoted to the Passion of Christ, presenting the narrative of his suffering and crucifixion as its central subject. Created in 1440 in Germany by the Master of the Schlägl Altarpiece, it belongs to the genre of religious art, a category shaped by the devotional function such panels served within Christian worship. As a Passion altarpiece, the imagery would have functioned both as a visual retelling of the Gospel accounts of Christ's final days and as an object of meditation intended to inspire piety and contemplation of his sacrifice among viewers in a liturgical setting.
The painting is held in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as object 1951.453.b, and its modest dimensions, 74.3 cm in height by 69.8 cm in width, are consistent with a portable devotional panel rather than a large architectural altarpiece.
History & Provenance
The Altarpiece with The Passion of Christ was created in Germany in 1440. It is attributed to the Master of the Schlägl Altarpiece. The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1951.453.b.
The altarpiece depicting The Passion of Christ is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged within the museum's holdings under the accession number 1951.453.b. Created circa 1440 by the Master of the Schlägl Altarpiece, the panel measures 74.3 cm in height and 69.8 cm in width. The provided sources confirm its location and inventory details but do not contain information regarding specific past exhibitions or loan history.
Overview
The Altarpiece with The Passion of Christ is a medieval painting structured into four distinct panels. It visually narrates key moments from the Passion of Christ, presenting them in a sequential manner. The artwork exemplifies the artistic conventions of its period through its compositional layout and stylistic choices, serving as a devotional piece characteristic of medieval art.
Technique & Style
Rendered in a distinctive medieval style, the painting employs a palette of bold colors and incorporates intricate surface details. Figures are presented with a sense of formality and rigidity, exhibiting minimal emotional expression or dynamic movement. The background uniformly features a plain, gold-colored surface, which serves to emphasize the figures and narrative without additional scenic elements.
Artist & collection
Diptych with the Passion of Christ
he taking of Christ and The entombment
Martyrdom of St. Crispin and Crispinian
De graflegging (links), Maria, Johannes de Evangelist, Jozef van Arimatea, Nicodemus en de drie Maria's verlaten het graf (rechts)
The Crucifixion
Ecce Homo
The Flagellation
Saint Vincent at the Stake
Geißelung Christi
