The Resurrection

15th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 509

The Resurrection, referring to the moment at which Christ rises from his tomb, was a popular scene in medieval religious art. Traditionally, soldiers are shown fast asleep around the tomb, oblivious to the miracle occurring in their midst. Often, the armor and weapons of the soldiers are accurate representations of what was worn and used in the place and period in which an artwork was created. Bashford Dean (1867–1928), founding curator of the Department of Arms and Armor, formerly owned this alabaster relief. As part of his large private collection of arms and armor, Dean eagerly sought out and acquired works of art, which he called documents, if they accurately depicted historical armor and weapons.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

References

Title: The Resurrection
Date: 15th century
Culture: British
Medium: Alabaster, gold, polychromy
Dimensions: H. 21 1/4 in. (53.9 cm); W. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm); Wt. 21 lb. 15 oz. (9.95 kg)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Bashford Dean, in memory of Alexander McMillan Welch, 1949
Object Number: 49.120.1
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Pistol Shield, Steel, wood, wool, brass, British — Pistol Shield
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ca. 1525 and later

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, Gert van Egen, Partly polychromed and gilded alabaster, gemstones, freshwater pearls, silver, Danish — Judith with the Head of Holofernes
Gert van Egen
ca. 1570–75

Display dish with Charles II (1630–1685) in a tree, Thomas Toft, Slip-decorated earthenware, British, Staffordshire — Display dish with Charles II (1630–1685) in a tree
Thomas Toft
ca. 1680

Basket-Hilted Sword, Steel, silver, gold, leather, British — Basket-Hilted Sword
British
1600–1625

Christ at the Column, Johann Baptist Hagenauer Austrian, Alabaster, polychromed and gilded, Austrian, Vienna — Christ at the Column
Johann Baptist Hagenauer
ca. 1754–56

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