Where can I see Enamels with the Crucifixion?

Enamels with the Crucifixion is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Enamels with the Crucifixion?

Enamels with the Crucifixion is associated with Romanesque.

Enamels with the Crucifixion (1100) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The inclusion of these specific figures transforms the object from a mere illustration into a comprehensive theological statement on the redemption story.

The artwork depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus, serving as a central religious narrative within the composition. The iconography includes the four Evangelists: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John, who are portrayed alongside the central event. A woman is also depicted within the scene, contributing to the traditional representation of the Passion.

Created around 1100 in Conques, the piece utilizes cloisonné and champlevé enamel techniques on a copper and gold base to render these sacred figures. As a work of religious art, it functions as a visual meditation on the sacrifice of Christ, integrating the witnesses of the Gospel writers to underscore the theological significance of the moment. The inclusion of these specific figures transforms the object from a mere illustration into a comprehensive theological statement on the redemption story.

Technique & Style

Dating to circa 1100 and originating from Conques, these works utilize copper as the primary structural support. The decorative surface is achieved through a combination of cloisonné and champlevé enameling techniques, where vitreous enamel is fused to the metal base. Gold is also incorporated into the material composition, likely serving as gilding or structural elements within the design.

Stylistically classified as religious paintings, the ensemble depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus alongside the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The arrangement suggests a complex iconographic program, potentially designed for integration into a larger object such as a book cover. The synthesis of colored glass enamel with precious metals on a copper ground characterizes the formal aesthetic of this Romanesque production.

History & Provenance

The enamel panel depicting the Crucifixion was created circa 1100 in Conques, France, using copper as the base metal and employing cloisonné and champlevé techniques with gold and vitreous enamel. Its inception is recorded as 1100‑00‑00, and it was produced by an artist associated with the Conques workshop. The work was originally owned by J. P. Morgan, who later gifted it as part of a 2007 acquisition.

Following the acquisition, the panel entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display. The precise patron who commissioned the piece is not documented in the available sources.

The enamels depicting the Crucifixion are held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Originally owned by J. P. Morgan, who gifted the work to the institution, the piece was subsequently mounted in conjunction with a purchase made by the museum in 2007. While the specific inventory or accession number is not detailed in the available records, the object's history notes its creation around the year 1100 by an artist associated with Conques.

The provided sources confirm the work's location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art but do not list specific past exhibitions or display histories.

Context

The enamel, dating to circa 1100 and produced in Conques, France, exemplifies early medieval religious metalwork. Executed in copper with cloisonné and champlevé techniques, it portrays the Crucifixion accompanied by the Evangelists Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, acquired through a 2007 purchase funded by J. P. Morgan, the work reflects the patronage and collecting practices of the early 20th century.

Its iconography and craftsmanship have been cited in scholarship as representative of devotional enamel production in the medieval West.

Overview

This artwork, titled "Enamels with the Crucifixion," is a circular, fragmented piece crafted from copper. It presents a central depiction of a man affixed to a cross, surrounded by two smaller standing figures. Above and below, various winged entities, including human-like figures and creatures with animal legs, hold scrolls. The use of vibrant blues and a gold background contributes to its antique appearance.