Master of Cubélls | Retable | Catalan | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Title: Retable

Artist: Master of Cubélls (Spanish, active 1374–ca. 1406)

Date: late 14th or early 15th century

Geography: Made in Catalonia, Spain

Culture: Catalan

Medium: Tempera and gesso on canvas

Dimensions: A: 70 1/2 x 38 in. (179.1 x 96.5 cm)
B: 66 7/8 x 37 3/4 in. (169.9 x 95.9 cm)
C: 70 3/4 x 28 in. (179.7 x 71.1 cm)
D: 71 x 27 1/4 in. (180.3 x 69.2 cm)
E: 51 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (130.8 x 69.9 cm)
F: 51 1/2 x 27 1/2 in. (130.8 x 69.9 cm)
G: 15 1/4 x 94 1/2 in. (38.7 x 240 cm)

Classification: Paintings-Panels

Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1957

Accession Number: 57.50a-g

Inscription: (scene B, on scroll of left figure): helles [should be helias] : prophem : t [should be propheta] . n muemmer : : (the Prophet Elijah [indecipherable])

(scene B, on scroll of right figure): henoch : prophet[backwards R] : [symbol] […] (the Prophet Enoch)

(scene B, on cross title): I […] [should be Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum] (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews [John 19:19])

(scene B, on books of figures in lower half, starting with bottom left, then bottom right, then top right): In exitu / isr[ae]l de [a]e / gipto do /m[us ia]/ cob [de] p[o]p[u]lo / barba / ro: Fac / ta est . / iudea/ s[anc]tific a/ cio [should be sanctificatio] eiu[s] / isr[ae]l po / testas e[i]us ma / re vi / dit et / fugit / iorda / [n]us [should be iordanis] qu[i] / co[n]ver / sus est / retror / sum (Israel in departure from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign people. Judah has become his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea saw and fled. In such a way Jordan was turned back [Psalm 113:1-3])

(scene C, behind reclining figures in lower half): […] : Ih[esu]S . n[azarenus] . gra […] [should be gratiam] (Jesus the Nazarene [with] grace)

(scene F, on Mary’s book): ecce : / Ancilla / d[omi]ni : fi / […] [should be fiat] mi / chi [should be mihi] se / cundu[m] / verbu[m] / tuum / ame[n] (behold the handmaiden of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your Word, amen [Luke 1:38])

(scene 3, second figure, around shield: […] meam . G / […] Ru […] / […] (too fragmentary for interpretation)

(scene G, central figure, written in a cursive script): (illegible)

(scene G, sixth figure, around shield): (illegible)

(scene G, seventh figure, on scroll): . Sanct9 [should be Sanctus] Gabriel : (Saint Gabriel)

Sebastian and Carlos Juñer (until 1957)

Baetjer, Katharine. European Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Artists Born before 1865: A Summary Catalogue. Vol. 1. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1980. p. 176.

Baetjer, Katharine. European Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Artists Born before 1865: A Summary Catalogue. Vol. 2. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1980. p. 191–92.

Baetjer, Katharine. European Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Artists Born before 1865: A Summary Catalogue. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1995. p. 147.

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