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Diptych with Scenes of the Life of Christ and the Virgin, Saint Michael, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, and the Trinity

ca. 1350
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 14
The densely packed scenes on this large diptych depict an unusually rich array of New Testament events, apocryphal legends, and the lives of the saints. The sequence of events shown on the left panel beginning with the lower left row is: the Annunciation, Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, Presentation in the Temple, Resurrection, Descent into Hell, and Coronation of the Virgin. On the right panel, beginning with the lower row is: Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint John the Baptist, the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket, Crucifixion, Ascension, Holy Trinity, and Virgin nursing.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Diptych with Scenes of the Life of Christ and the Virgin, Saint Michael, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, and the Trinity
  • Date: ca. 1350
  • Geography: Made in Cologne, Germany
  • Culture: German
  • Medium: Elephant ivory
  • Dimensions: Overall (open): 10 x 8 5/16 x 3/8 in. (25.5 x 21.1 x 0.9 cm)
  • Classification: Ivories-Elephant
  • Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1970
  • Object Number: 1970.324.8a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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