Artwork
The Circumcision
The Circumcision is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography includes the presence of a woman, likely representing the Virgin Mary or a midwife, attending the sacred procedure.
Created in 1460, this German stained glass window depicts the Circumcision of Jesus as its primary subject. As a work of religious art, the piece illustrates the biblical event where the infant Jesus underwent the ritual circumcision eight days after his birth, a moment signifying his entry into the covenant of Israel. The iconography includes the presence of a woman, likely representing the Virgin Mary or a midwife, attending the sacred procedure.
Housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at The Cloisters, the window serves as a visual representation of this specific episode from the Life of Christ, emphasizing the theological importance of the event within Christian tradition.
Technique & Style
The Circumcision is classified as a painting, with the work dated to 1460. The Wikidata record describes the piece as a German stained glass window housed at The Met Cloisters, New York, indicating that the medium is stained glass rather than a traditional painted panel or canvas. The genre is identified as religious art, with the composition depicting the circumcision of Jesus.
Beyond these core classifications, the available sources do not provide further details about the specific materials, support, handling, condition, or stylistic qualities of the work.
History & Provenance
This stained glass window was created in 1460. It depicts the circumcision of Jesus as its main subject, with a woman also represented in the composition. The work is classified as religious art and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed at The Met Cloisters in New York.
The Circumcision is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It forms part of the museum’s Cloisters branch, which specializes in medieval art and architecture.
No specific accession or inventory number for this work is documented in the available sources. Exhibition history beyond its permanent display at The Met Cloisters is not recorded in the provided materials.
Overview
This stained glass panel, titled The Circumcision, depicts a sacred ritual within an ecclesiastical environment. Five figures are arranged around a central infant, suggesting a significant religious event. The background features architectural elements such as arched windows and decorative stonework, reinforcing the solemnity of the setting. The artwork's vibrant palette and distinct outlines are characteristic of its medium and period.
Artist & collection
