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Altarpiece (retablo) with Scenes from the Passion

Attributed to Master Morata Spanish
second half 15th century
On view at The Met Cloisters in Gallery 20
Forming the left side of a large fixed altar are scenes representing the events preceding the Crucifixion of Jesus. From left to right, they are: the Agony in the Garden, the Betrayal, Christ before Caiaphas, Christ Crowned with Thorns, the Flagellation, and Christ before Pilate. In medallions are heads of apostles with scrolls inscribed (in Latin) with the opening phrases of the Apostles’ Creed, a statement that summarizes Christian belief (I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth / And in Jesus Christ, his only son, Our Lord / Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary / [of the father] almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead / I believe in the Holy Spirit / the holy Catholic Church, [the communion of] saints). The right side of the altar would have continued the story of the Passion, leading to the Resurrection, with the remainder of the apostles and of the text of the Creed shown below. A tabernacle to house the chalice and paten used in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) may have separated the two sections.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Altarpiece (retablo) with Scenes from the Passion
  • Artist: Attributed to Master Morata (Spanish, Aragon, active 1470–1505)
  • Date: second half 15th century
  • Geography: Made in Aragon, Spain
  • Culture: Spanish
  • Medium: Tempera, gilt, wood
  • Dimensions: Overall: 56 x 120 3/4 x 3 in., 178lb. (142.2 x 306.7 x 7.6 cm, 80740.3g)
  • Classification: Paintings-Panels
  • Credit Line: Gift of W. M. Laffan, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.12a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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