Artwork
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1440 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
The painting forms part of a larger altarpiece, with the main panel depicting the Virgin and five saints; its predella panels are documented separately.
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels is a 15th‑century tempera on panel painted around 1440, as indicated by dated entries in the work’s catalogue records (1440) and corroborated by its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection (inception 1440‑00‑00). The painting forms part of a larger altarpiece, with the main panel depicting the Virgin and five saints; its predella panels are documented separately. The work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains on display, and no documentation of its original commission or patron has been identified in the available sources.
Its attribution to an anonymous master is based on stylistic comparison with other works in the museum’s holdings.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. According to the Wikidata record associated with the work, it carries the accession identifier 37.52.1, indicating its place within the museum's holdings. The sources do not provide further details regarding the work's exhibition history, including any past loans, gallery displays, or temporary installations outside the Met's permanent collection.
Overview
This stained glass window, titled "The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels," presents a tripartite composition. It features a central depiction of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, flanked by five saints. Below, a dramatic scene unfolds with Saint Michael engaged in combat with a dragon.
The upper register portrays architectural elements, including spires, alongside additional robed figures, contributing to the work's layered narrative and devotional purpose.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork's primary focus is the Virgin Mary, shown in a blue robe, cradling the infant Jesus, a common motif in Christian art symbolizing divine motherhood. Below this central image, Saint Michael the Archangel is depicted in armor, triumphing over a dragon. This imagery draws from biblical accounts, particularly the Book of Revelation, where Michael leads heavenly forces against Satan, often personified as a dragon, signifying the victory of good over evil. The five standing saints and other robed figures in the upper section further enrich the spiritual narrative.
Technique & Style
Rendered in stained glass, the artwork utilizes vibrant colors and intricate leading to define its three distinct, vertically stacked scenes. The medium allows light to filter through, enhancing the spiritual quality of the religious figures and narratives. Details such as architectural spires, flowing robes, and the specific depiction of armor and a dragon demonstrate the craftsmanship involved in creating the detailed imagery within the glass panels, characteristic of devotional art intended for ecclesiastical settings.
Artist & collection
- The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels
The Virgin Mary and Five Standing Saints above Predella Panels