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The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows

Bernard van Orley Netherlandish
ca. 1514–15
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 636
This panel once formed the left wing of an altarpiece dedicated to Saint John the Baptist that was commissioned by Abbot Jacques Coëne for the Benedictine Abbey Church in Marchiennes, near Tournai. It depicts Saint Elizabeth in bed, shortly after giving birth. Zacharias appears at the entrance to her room, carrying a scroll that declares his son’s name will be John. The pendant shows the moment after the Baptist’s death, when Salome receives his head on a platter. The abbot’s crozier, or hooked staff, on the marbleized reverse refers to the patron.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Birth and Naming of Saint John the Baptist; (reverse) Trompe-l'oeil with Painting of The Man of Sorrows
  • Artist: Bernard van Orley (Netherlandish, Brussels ca. 1492–1541/42 Brussels)
  • Date: ca. 1514–15
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 25 × 30 in. (63.5 × 76.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Hertha Katz, 2000
  • Object Number: 2001.216.3
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The Final Assault on the Boar, or December from a set of the Hunts of Maximilian, Bernard van Orley , probably Netherlandish, Wool, silk (19-21 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), French, Paris
The Final Assault on the Boar, or December from a set of the Hunts of Maximilian
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1531, woven 1692–93
Adoration of the Kings, Bernard van Orley or a member of his workshop Netherlandish, Wool, silk, silver, silver-gilt thread (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Adoration of the Kings
Multiple artists/makers
1525–1535
August from a set of Medallion Months, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
August from a set of Medallion Months
Bernard van Orley
ca. 1525–28
The Twelve Ages of a Man: The First Three Ages (Birth-18), or Spring, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk (16-20 warps per inch, 6-8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
The Twelve Ages of a Man: The First Three Ages (Birth-18), or Spring
Bernard van Orley
ca. 1515
The Crucifixion, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk, silver thread, silver-gilt thread (20-21 warps per inch, 7-8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
The Crucifixion
Multiple artists/makers
design ca. 1515, woven ca. 1525

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