Artwork
The Pérussis Altarpiece
The Pérussis Altarpiece is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Together, these elements convey a meditation on saintly intercession, penitence, and the hope of eternal life within a Franciscan framework.
The Pérussis Altarpiece presents a complex devotional tableau centered on Franciscan piety and mortality. At its core stands Francis of Assisi, flanked by John the Baptist, whose role as Christ's forerunner underscores the theme of salvation. An angel hovers above, signaling divine intervention, while a prominent cross reinforces the sacrificial focus of the composition.
A skull placed in the lower register serves as a memento mori, reminding viewers of life's transience, and a coat of arms identifies the likely patron, linking personal devotion to the sacred imagery. Together, these elements convey a meditation on saintly intercession, penitence, and the hope of eternal life within a Franciscan framework.
Legacy
The Pérussis Altarpiece, painted circa 1490 by the Circle of Nicolas Froment, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its catalog entry identifies it as a religious work featuring symbolic elements such as a skull, a coat of arms, and figures of John the Baptist and Saint Francis. Its inclusion in a major museum's holdings and its documentation in scholarly databases reflect a sustained reputation in art-historical discourse.
Overview
The Pérussis Altarpiece is a devotional painting structured as a triptych, divided into three distinct panels. The central section depicts a landscape featuring a cross and two red-winged angels, while the flanking panels present figures engaged in prayer. This arrangement is characteristic of altarpieces designed for private contemplation or public veneration, inviting viewers into a narrative of spiritual reflection.
Artist & collection
The Flagellation
Drieluik met de kruisiging
Saint Nicholas Saving a Hang
Triptych with the Crucifixion
Saint Peter the Martyr praying
Crucifixion
Triptych with the Crucifixion (centre panel), St Peter and a Male Donor (inner left wing), St James and a Female Donor (inner right wing), St Christopher and the Christ Child on the Road of Life (outer wings)
Crucifixion with a Donor
The Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve
Christ crucified between Mary and John the Evangelist and the saints Adolphus and Ambrosius
Madonna and Child with the Donor, Pietro de' Lardi, Presented by Saint Nicholas
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
Portrait of a Woman, possibly Ginevra d'Antonio Lupari Gozzadini
The Seven Sacraments
Portrait of a Woman Holding a Book
An Artist Painting a Heraldic Shield in a Cabinet of Curiosities
Angel Supporting a Heraldic Shield
Portrait of a Man of the Moncheaux Family