Artwork
Right wing of an altarpiece with the gathering of manna (inner wing) and Ecclesia (outer wing)
Right wing of an altarpiece with the gathering of manna (inner wing) and Ecclesia (outer wing) is an oil painting. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work forms the right wing of a diptych altarpiece, presenting a dual composition.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the biblical episode of the Israelites gathering manna in the wilderness, positioned as the inner scene of a two‑panel altarpiece.
The work depicts the biblical episode of the Israelites gathering manna in the wilderness, positioned as the inner scene of a two‑panel altarpiece. Ecclesia, the personified Church, occupies the outer wing and serves as a theological counterpart, emphasizing the transition from divine provision to ecclesiastical authority. The iconography of manna underscores God’s sustenance of his people, while the presence of Ecclesia highlights the institutional Church’s role in interpreting that provision.
Together the panels convey a narrative of spiritual nourishment and the Church’s mediating function within the faithful community.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on wooden panel, a technique typical of early sixteenth-century Dutch religious painting. The panel measures 102 cm in height by 71.2 cm in width, reflecting the modest scale often employed for wing panels of multi-panel altarpieces. Stylistically, the composition belongs to the mature phase of the Master of the Amsterdam School, characterized by naturalistic detail and a restrained palette that emphasizes the narrative clarity of the gathering of manna. The surface condition appears stable, with no documented losses or later overpaintings reported in the catalog entry.
History & Provenance
This oil painting on panel, depicting the gathering of manna on its inner wing and Ecclesia on its outer, was created in 1515. Although the specific artist remains anonymous, the work is historically linked to a larger altarpiece structure. The painting has been held in the collections of major Dutch institutions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Mauritshuis, and the Zeeuws Museum.
It is currently located at the Rijksmuseum. No specific details regarding the original commission or the intermediate ownership chain between its creation and its acquisition by these museums are provided in the available records.
The work is held in the Rijksmuseum collection, listed under the inventory number SK-A-3969. It has been displayed in the museum’s exhibition titled "Early Netherlandish Painting in the Rijksmuseum," which ran from March 15 to June 30, 2018, and again in the 2021 presentation "Rijksmuseum Highlights: 1500–1600."
Context
The work is part of a larger altarpiece whose right wing comprises two painted panels: the inner wing depicting the Gathering of the Manna and the outer wing portraying Ecclesia. Executed in oil on panel in 1515, the dimensions measure 102 cm in height by 71.2 cm in width. The panels were created by an anonymous artist and are housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. Their religious genre and subject matter align with early sixteenth‑century devotional painting in the Netherlands.
Overview
The work forms the right wing of a diptych altarpiece, presenting a dual composition. The inner panel illustrates the biblical episode of the gathering of manna, while the outer panel depicts the figure of Ecclesia. Executed in oil on panel, the scene unfolds in a populated landscape where figures in colorful attire congregate around a large, shallow dish placed on a table.
Artist & collection
The Martyrdom of Saint Lucy
Calvary
The Gathering of Manna
The Beheading of John the Baptist
The Massacre of the Innocents
The Fall of Manna
Joseph's Brothers Throw Him Into the Pit
Marter des Apostels Matthias
Martyrium der hll. Cantius, Cantianus und Cantianilla (Innenseite); Auferstehung Christi (Außenseite)
The Conversion of St Paul