Artwork
Roundel with Killing of the Ox (December)
Roundel with Killing of the Ox (December) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
Created in 1550, the roundel depicting the killing of an ox is an anonymous work, with no specific artist identified in available records.
Created in 1550, the roundel depicting the killing of an ox is an anonymous work, with no specific artist identified in available records. The painting's early ownership history and original commission details remain undocumented in the provided sources. Currently, the work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is also located.
The piece is classified as a painting and illustrates figures including an ox, a man, and a woman, consistent with its thematic representation of the month of December.
The roundel depicting the Killing of the Ox, dated to 1550, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the specific inventory or accession number is not detailed in the available records, the institution is confirmed as the current location and custodian of this anonymous painting. The provided sources do not contain information regarding any past or present exhibition history for this specific work, limiting the provenance record to its current museum housing.
Overview
This circular painting, titled Roundel with Killing of the Ox (December), depicts a scene of three figures gathered around an ox. A man stands ready with an axe raised, while a woman holds a horn nearby. The ox, positioned centrally and facing left, is the focus of the composition.
The setting is an interior space, indicated by a brick wall and a tiled floor, suggesting a domestic or agricultural context for this seasonal activity.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork's title, "Killing of the Ox (December)," situates the scene within a traditional calendar of seasonal labors. Such imagery was common in art to represent the activities associated with specific months, particularly in agricultural societies. The act of slaughtering an ox would have been a crucial winter task, providing sustenance and materials, and thus symbolizing the provisions and preparations for the colder parts of the year.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a direct composition, emphasizing the central group of figures and the ox. The palette is characterized by warm tones, primarily shades of brown, yellow, and white, which contribute to the scene's grounded atmosphere. The use of chiaroscuro, the strong contrast between light and shadow, is evident, creating a sense of depth and volume that enhances the three-dimensional quality of the figures and draws the viewer's attention to the main action.
Artist & collection
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