Artwork

The Circumcision

The Circumcision is an oil painting. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1511 by the workshop of Giovanni Bellini, the painting uses oil on panel to illustrate this moment of Jewish law and Christian theology.

The Circumcision depicts the biblical event of the circumcision of Jesus Christ, a central subject in religious art. The scene includes specific figures identified as Mary, Joseph, a priest, and other men and women present at the ritual. Created in 1511 by the workshop of Giovanni Bellini, the painting uses oil on panel to illustrate this moment of Jewish law and Christian theology.

The work represents the fulfillment of Mosaic law and the naming of Jesus, serving as a key iconographic representation of the infant Christ's entry into the covenant. As a religious genre piece, it focuses on the solemnity of the ceremony rather than broader narrative elements, capturing the specific interaction between the priest and the holy family.

Technique & Style

The Circumcision is executed in oil paint on panel, a standard support for Venetian devotional works of the early sixteenth century. The painting measures 67.9 cm in height by 102.9 cm in width, giving it a horizontal format suited to a narrative religious scene. Its medium and technique are consistent with workshop practice associated with Giovanni Bellini, and the work is classified as a painting within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's holdings.

The composition depicts the circumcision of Jesus, populated with figures including Joseph, a priest, Mary, a man, and a woman, arranged within a religious genre framework typical of the period.

History & Provenance

Created in 1511, The Circumcision is an oil painting on panel attributed to the workshop of Giovanni Bellini, depicting the biblical scene of the circumcision of Jesus with figures including Mary, Joseph, and a priest. The panel measures approximately 67.9 by 102.9 centimeters and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The available sources confirm its location and its date of 1511 but do not provide a specific accession number or any documented exhibition history, nor do they detail the original commission or earlier ownership.

Overview

This oil painting, titled The Circumcision, presents an intimate indoor gathering of five individuals. The composition centers on an older man holding an infant, surrounded by other figures observing the scene. The work captures a moment of quiet solemnity, rendered with a focus on the human interactions within the confined space.