Christ Is Born as Man's Redeemer (Episode from the Story of the Redemption of Man)

1500–1520

On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 20

This tapestry with its rich and complex imagery is the fourth in a series of ten expounding the story of Christ’s redemption of mankind. The series reveals, on the one hand, mankind’s fall from grace and its inability to resist temptation in spite of the assistance offered by the Virtues, and, on the other, Christ’s mission to reconcile mankind with God and thus achieve redemption. The content of these extended visual narratives is drawn from Christian scriptures as well as from medieval allegory, poetry, and drama, and is perhaps based ultimately on a mystery or morality play. Trees, flora, and waterways separate the various episodes. (The subjects are identified and the inscriptions translated in the line drawing.)
The individual scenes in the tapestry have counterparts in contemporary panel paintings by Netherlandish artists, notably Rogier van der Weyden. It may be that the unknown designers of the series were painters or were active in a workshop that included painters. The quality and style of the weaving suggest that the series was created in Brussels. This tapestry and seven others from the series were in the collection of Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos from 1514 until his death in 1524.

Artwork Details

Title: Christ Is Born as Man's Redeemer (Episode from the Story of the Redemption of Man)
Date: 1500–1520
Culture: South Netherlandish
Medium: Wool warp; wool and silk wefts
Dimensions: Overall: 166 1/4 x 315 1/8 in. (422.3 x 800.4 cm)
Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
Credit Line: Purchase, Fletcher and Rogers Funds, and Bequest of Gwynne M. Andrews, by exchange, 1938
Object Number: 38.28
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Tapestry with Armorial Bearings and Badges of John, Lord Dynham, Wool warp; wool wefts with a few silk wefts, South Netherlandish — Tapestry with Armorial Bearings and Badges of John, Lord Dynham
South Netherlandish
ca. 1488–1501

Hector of Troy (?) (from the Heroes Tapestries), Wool warp, wool wefts, South Netherlandish — Hector of Troy (?) (from the Heroes Tapestries)
South Netherlandish
ca. 1400–1410

Joshua and David (from the Heroes Tapestries), Wool warp, wool wefts, South Netherlandish — Joshua and David (from the Heroes Tapestries)
South Netherlandish
ca. 1400–1410

The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven) — The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505

The Hunters Enter the Woods (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp, wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven) — The Hunters Enter the Woods (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.