Artwork
Saint Geneviève
Saint Geneviève is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of religious art, the piece visually communicates the saint's spiritual authority and her role in overcoming demonic influences through faith.
Created circa 1450, this anonymous religious painting depicts Saint Geneviève as a central female figure. The iconography is complex, featuring the saint alongside a book, which traditionally symbolizes her piety and learning. Unusually, the composition also includes an angel, a demon, and a monkey.
The presence of these contrasting figures suggests a narrative struggle between divine protection and evil forces, with the monkey potentially representing sin or folly. As a work of religious art, the piece visually communicates the saint's spiritual authority and her role in overcoming demonic influences through faith.
History & Provenance
The Saint Geneviève panel is an anonymous painting dated to around 1450, classified as a religious work. It has been in the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently displayed. The sources record no earlier owners, patrons, or commission details, and the artist remains unidentified.
Consequently, the work’s provenance is limited to its modern museum acquisition, with no documented exhibition or ownership history prior to its entry into the Met’s collection.
Overview
This carved wooden sculpture depicts Saint Geneviève, a revered figure, presented as a robed woman. She holds a long staff and a small book, traditional attributes associated with her. Perched on her shoulders are two diminutive figures, one carrying a bundle and the other a staff, whose presence suggests symbolic significance.
The artwork's dark wood, imbued with warm brown and green tones, contributes to its aged appearance and solemn character.
Technique & Style
Crafted from dark wood, the sculpture exhibits a rich palette of warm brown and green tones, contributing to its venerable aesthetic. The artist meticulously rendered the flowing drapery, creating smooth, carved folds that convey a sense of grace. The main figure's calm facial expression, alongside the detailed carving of the smaller figures, demonstrates careful attention to form and texture, characteristic of devotional wood carving.
Artist & collection
