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ExhibitionsSpectrum of Desire Love Sex and Gender in the Middle AgesExhibition Objects

A medieval sculpture features a woman seated on a man with a bridle, symbolizing power dynamics. Text reads "Spectrum of Desire: Love, Sex, and Gender in the Middle Ages".

Exhibition

Spectrum of Desire: Love, Sex, and Gender in the Middle Ages

Overview Exhibition Objects

The Man of Sorrows, Michele Giambono (Michele Giovanni Bono) Italian, Tempera and gold on wood — The Man of Sorrows
Michele Giambono (Michele Giovanni Bono)
ca. 1430

Meeting of Saints Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gate, Benedikt Dreyer German, Oak with polychromy and gilding, North German — Meeting of Saints Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gate
Benedikt Dreyer
ca. 1515–20

Box with Romance Scenes, Elephant ivory, French — Box with Romance Scenes
French
ca. 1310–30

Comb, Elephant ivory, paint and gilding, French or Italian — Comb
French or Italian
15th or 16th century

The Visitation, Master Heinrich of Constance German, Walnut, paint, gilding, rock-crystal cabochons inset in gilt-silver mounts, German — The Visitation
Master Heinrich of Constance
ca. 1310–20

Goblet, Glass, enameled and gilded, Italian, Venice, Murano — Goblet
Italian, Venice, Murano
ca. 1475–1500 (modern foot)

Virgin of the Annunciation, Limestone, traces of paint, French — Virgin of the Annunciation
French
ca. 1300–1310

Peregrinatio in terram sanctam., Bernhard von Breydenbach German, Woodcuts — Peregrinatio in terram sanctam.
Multiple artists/makers
1486

Purse with scenes from the story of Patient Griselda, Silk and metal thread on canvas, French — Purse with scenes from the story of Patient Griselda
French
14th century

The Man of Sorrows between Two Angels, Anonymous, German, 15th century German, Woodcut, hand-colored — The Man of Sorrows between Two Angels
Anonymous, German, 15th century
15th century

Leaf of a Writing Tablet, Elephant ivory, French — Leaf of a Writing Tablet
French
14th century

Saddle, Bovine bone (body of saddle), deer antler and bone (decorative elements), limewood, rawhide, birchbark, and metal paint, Central European — Saddle
Central European
ca. 1400–1420

Box with the Parable Prodigal Son and Scenes of Lovers, Elephant ivory, French — Box with the Parable Prodigal Son and Scenes of Lovers
French
14th century

Coffret, Embossed leather, walnut, gilding, polychromy, copper alloy and iron fittings, French — Coffret
French
14th century

Coffret (Minnekästchen), Oak, inlay, and tempera; wrought-iron mounts, German — Coffret (Minnekästchen)
German
ca. 1325–50

Altar Angel (one of a pair), Chesnut with traces of paint, French — Altar Angel (one of a pair)
French
ca. 1275–1300

Altar Angel, Oak with traces of paint, French — Altar Angel
French
ca. 1275–1300

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry, The Limbourg Brothers Franco-Netherlandish, Tempera, gold, and ink on vellum, French — The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry
The Limbourg Brothers
1405–1408/1409

Manuscript Leaf with Marriage Scene, from Decretals of Gregory IX, Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment, Italian — Manuscript Leaf with Marriage Scene, from Decretals of Gregory IX
Italian
ca. 1300

Base for a Statuette, Boxwood, South Netherlandish — Base for a Statuette
South Netherlandish
1470–80

Saint Sebastian, European poplar, paint, gesso, Northern European — Saint Sebastian
Northern European
late 15th century

Plate with Wife Beating Husband, Copper alloy, wrought, Netherlandish — Plate with Wife Beating Husband
Netherlandish
ca. 1480

Seated Man of Sorrows (Schr. 910), Anonymous, German, 15th century German, Woodcut, hand-colored — Seated Man of Sorrows (Schr. 910)
Anonymous, German, 15th century
15th century

The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy, Jean Le Noir , and Workshop French, Tempera, grisaille, ink, and gold on vellum, French — The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy
Jean Le Noir
before 1349

Pax with the Crucifixion, Elephant ivory and copper gilt, South German — Pax with the Crucifixion
South German
ca. 1360–70 (ivory); 15th century (frame)

Two Riddles of the Queen of Sheba, Linen warp; wool, linen and metallic wefts, Upper Rhenish — Two Riddles of the Queen of Sheba
Upper Rhenish
ca. 1490–1500

Roundel with Annunciation to the Virgin, Colorless glass, vitreous paint and silver stain, South Netherlandish — Roundel with Annunciation to the Virgin
South Netherlandish
1500–1510

Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata, Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia) Italian, Tempera and gold on wood — Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata
Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia)
ca. 1447–65

Aquamanile in the Form of Aristotle and Phyllis, Bronze; Quaternary copper alloy (approx. 72% copper, approx. 17% zinc,<br/>approx. 6% lead, approx. 3% tin)., South Netherlandish — Aquamanile in the Form of Aristotle and Phyllis
South Netherlandish
late 14th or early 15th century

Comb, Boxwood inlaid with bone, and decorated with red and green silk, French (?) — Comb
French (?)
15th–16th century

Roundel with the Temptation of Saint Anthony, Colorless glass, vitreous paint and silver stain, German — Roundel with the Temptation of Saint Anthony
German
1532

The Man of Sorrows, Champlevé enamel, gilded copper, Italian — The Man of Sorrows
Italian
last quarter 14th century

Roundel with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Colorless glass, vitreous paint and silver stain, South Netherlandish — Roundel with Saint Catherine of Alexandria
South Netherlandish
ca. 1500

Amatory Brooch, Gold and freshwater pearl, German — Amatory Brooch
German
ca. 1340–60

Cover of a Writing Tablet, Elephant ivory, French — Cover of a Writing Tablet
French
ca. 1325–50

Plaque with the Fountain of Youth, Elephant ivory, French — Plaque with the Fountain of Youth
French
ca. 1320–40

Christ Child with an Apple, Michel Erhart German, Willow with original paint and traces of gold, German — Christ Child with an Apple
Michel Erhart
ca. 1470–80

Ring Brooch, Gold, sapphire, garnet, British or French — Ring Brooch
British or French
1250–1300

Belt, Silver, with traces of gilding and enamel; modern textile support, North Italian — Belt
North Italian
ca. 1330–50

Ring Brooch, Gold and garnet, French or British — Ring Brooch
French or British
13th century

Gothic Love Ring “Corte Porta Amor”, Gold and ruby, Italian — Gothic Love Ring “Corte Porta Amor”
Italian
14th century

Cusped Ring, Gold, hessonite garnet, North European — Cusped Ring
North European
15th century

Renaissance Hunting Ring, Gold, Spanish — Renaissance Hunting Ring
Spanish
ca. 1500–1600?

Fede Ring, Gold, British (?) — Fede Ring
British (?)
16th century

Book of Hours, F. Gratianus Brux, Tempera and ink on parchment, Belgian — Book of Hours
F. Gratianus Brux
Master of Charles V
1533

Le régime du corps, Tempera and ink on parchment, French — Le régime du corps
French
1440-1450

The Golden Legend, Chronicles II Workshop Belgian, Tempera and ink on parchment, Belgian — The Golden Legend
Chronicles II Workshop
1445-1465

Boxwood sketchbook, Circle of Jacquemart de Hesdin French, Metalpoint drawings on boxwood panels, French — Boxwood sketchbook
Circle of Jacquemart de Hesdin
1400

The Rothschild Canticles, Tempera and ink on parchment, Possibly French or Belgian — The Rothschild Canticles
Possibly French or Belgian
1300

Writing Tablet with Scenes from the Lives of Virgil and Aristotle, Ivory, French — Writing Tablet with Scenes from the Lives of Virgil and Aristotle
French
1340-1360

Book of hours, use of Geert Grote, Tempera and ink on parchment, Dutch — Book of hours, use of Geert Grote
Dutch
1500

Christ and Saint John the Evangelist, Polychromed and gilded oak, German — Christ and Saint John the Evangelist
German
1300-1320

Calvary with a Carthusian Monk, Jean de Beaumetz French, Oil on oak panel, French — Calvary with a Carthusian Monk
Jean de Beaumetz
1389–1395

A Bridal Couple, Oil on panel, German — A Bridal Couple
German
1470

Roman de la Rose, Guillaume de Lorris French, Tempera and ink on parchment, French — Roman de la Rose
Multiple artists/makers
1340

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