Artwork
Roundel with the Circumcision
Roundel with the Circumcision is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1493 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
Its creation is recorded only by the date 1485, matching the museum’s inception field, and it is classified as a painting within the genre of religious art.
The Roundel with the Circumcision was created in 1485 by an anonymous painter. Executed as a small religious roundel, the work depicts a man in a biblical scene. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it remains on view.
The painting’s provenance is limited to its acquisition by the museum; no documentation of a prior private ownership or a specific commission survives. Its creation is recorded only by the date 1485, matching the museum’s inception field, and it is classified as a painting within the genre of religious art.
The Roundel with the Circumcision is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, dated to 1485, is classified as an anonymous religious painting. While the museum retains the piece, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history for this specific roundel.
Overview
The painting, titled Roundel with the Circumcision, presents a solemn gathering centered on an infant. A figure performs a ritual act with a knife, while surrounding individuals observe with focused intensity. The scene unfolds within an interior setting, featuring a checkered floor and figures clad in robes, some holding traditional objects. This circular artwork captures a moment of profound religious significance.
Subject & Meaning
This artwork depicts the Circumcision, a pivotal event in Christian tradition occurring eight days after the birth of a male child. The central action shows a man holding a knife over the baby, who rests on a table, signifying the ritual. The surrounding figures, attentive and robed, likely include the Holy Family and other witnesses, underscoring the spiritual and communal importance of this biblical narrative.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a striking use of chiaroscuro, a technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and dark to create a powerful sense of depth and volume. This dramatic interplay of illumination and shadow accentuates the figures and their expressions, drawing the viewer's eye to the central ritual. The technique enhances the solemn and focused atmosphere, imbuing the scene with a heightened emotional intensity.
Artist & collection
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