Where can I see Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother?

Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother?

Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother

Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Roundel dated 1511 portrays the moment of Christ bidding farewell to his mother, a scene drawn from the Passion narrative.

Roundel dated 1511 portrays the moment of Christ bidding farewell to his mother, a scene drawn from the Passion narrative. The composition shows the adult Christ turning toward a grieving female figure identified as Mary, emphasizing both filial obedience and the sorrow of the Virgin. Iconographically the work belongs to the “Christ Taking Leave of His Mother” type, a rare subject in late medieval art that underscores the humanity of Christ and the compassion of his mother.

Its religious meaning reflects contemporary devotional interest in the emotional dimensions of the Passion, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection.

Technique & Style

The work is a small circular painting, known as a roundel, created in 1511 in the style of a follower of Hans Schäuflein. It portrays the biblical moment of Christ saying farewell to his mother, a scene that underscores a tender maternal bond. The composition belongs to the religious genre and reflects the narrative clarity characteristic of early sixteenth‑century German devotional art.

The piece is classified as a painting and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European works.

History & Provenance

The roundel is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded under accession number 1975.1.101.

It was exhibited at the museum in 1976 as part of the display “The Year 1511 in European Art,” where it appeared under its accession number.

Overview

This painting, titled Roundel with Christ Taking Leave of His Mother, presents a poignant religious scene. Executed as a roundel, the artwork focuses on Christ's farewell to his mother, Mary, before his Passion. The composition features Jesus alongside three female figures, conveying a mood of quiet contemplation and solemnity through their expressions and gestures.

Artist & collection

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Continue through works from the same source collection.