Scenes from the Passion of Christ
1370
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Scenes from the Passion of Christ is a 1370 by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This ivory diptych shows twelve small scenes from Christ’s last days. The carvings sit in neat rows like a comic strip. You can see the Last Supper, the kiss of Judas, and the Entombment all on one small panel. It’s odd because it mixes two styles of ivory carving. The carver also added the Incredulity of St Thomas—a rare scene in Passion art. Ivory was pricey then, so this was a luxury object. Look for the tiny details in the folds of robes. It’s like a 14th-century Instagram feed of holy moments. Door: museum: Victoria and Albert Museum
