Artwork

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light, unspecified, 1350
Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light, unspecified, 1350

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

1 cm in width, reflecting the compact scale typical of its trefoil-shaped tracery format.

Created circa 1350, this anonymous work is classified as a painting. The piece measures 26 cm in height and 24.1 cm in width, reflecting the compact scale typical of its trefoil-shaped tracery format. Stylistically, the composition depicts botanical elements, specifically a leaf and a flower, which align with the decorative function of Gothic architectural glazing lights. The work is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

The work titled Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light is an anonymous painting dated to 1350, classified as a painting and attributed to an anonymous hand. Its dimensions measure 26 by 24.1, featuring a trefoil‑shaped tracery motif and leaf and flower motifs. The piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed and displayed.

The work remains on public view within the museum’s galleries. Its provenance is traced to the museum’s acquisition, and no earlier ownership records are documented.

Context

The work titled Trefoil‑shaped Tracery Light is classified as a painting dated to 1350. Its dimensions measure 26 cm in height by 24.1 cm in width, and the composition features leaf and flower motifs rendered in a trefoil tracery pattern. As an anonymous piece housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the painting is frequently referenced in studies of mid‑fourteenth‑century panel art and illustrates the decorative conventions of the period.

Its inclusion in a prominent public collection signals scholarly recognition of its stylistic significance within early Gothic painting traditions.

Overview

This artwork, titled "Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light," is a painted glass panel distinguished by its three interconnected circular forms, resembling a clover. The central section features a vibrant red flower encircled by yellow petals, creating a focal point. The two flanking lobes display delicate green foliage set against a clear, white ground, with all elements delineated by slender dark lines.

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light
Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light

Artist & collection

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light?

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light?

Trefoil-shaped Tracery Light is associated with Gothic painting.