Artwork
Roundel with Christ and Zacchaeus
Roundel with Christ and Zacchaeus is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1505 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject matter centers on the biblical encounter, presenting the scene within the context of religious iconography typical of the early sixteenth century.
The work is a religious painting created in 1505 that depicts a man, identified by the title as Zacchaeus in the presence of Christ. As an anonymous piece of religious art held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the roundel focuses on this narrative figure. The subject matter centers on the biblical encounter, presenting the scene within the context of religious iconography typical of the early sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
The Roundel with Christ and Zacchaeus is an anonymous religious painting dated to 1505, held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed in the roundel format common to early sixteenth-century devotional panels, it depicts the biblical encounter of Christ and Zacchaeus and is attributed to an unidentified master. No specific accession number is provided in the available records, nor is there documentation of a formal exhibition history; the object remains part of the museum's permanent collection.
Context
The roundel, dated 1505, reflects the early sixteenth-century practice of producing small, portable devotional images for private worship. Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as an anonymous painting, it illustrates the roundel format used for such intimate religious imagery while remaining unattributed, an example of the anonymous production of devotional art in the early Renaissance.
Overview
This painting, titled Roundel with Christ and Zacchaeus, presents a biblical narrative within a circular format. It captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament, illustrating the encounter between Jesus and the tax collector Zacchaeus. The composition places Christ centrally, drawing the viewer's attention to the spiritual exchange unfolding amidst a gathering crowd.
Technique & Style
Rendered with a palette primarily featuring browns and yellows, the painting employs strong contrasts of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, to create a sense of three-dimensionality and focus. The use of impasto, where paint is applied thickly, adds texture and visual weight to the figures and their drapery. These stylistic choices are characteristic of Renaissance artistic practices.
Artist & collection
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