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Altarpiece with the Lives of Jesus, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint John the Evangelist

ca. 1390–1400
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 306
The altarpiece depicts episodes from the life of Christ (central section), of Saint John the Baptist (left), and of Saint John the Evangelist (right). The appearance of Franciscan friars in the Crucifixion scene suggests that the altarpiece was originally commissioned for a Franciscan community. The Embriachi family, which ran successful workshops in Venice and Florence, produced numerous carvings in bone, ivory, and other materials.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Altarpiece with the Lives of Jesus, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint John the Evangelist
  • Artist: Baldassare degli Embriachi (Italian, active 1390–1409)
  • Date: ca. 1390–1400
  • Culture: North Italian
  • Medium: Bone framed with intarsia and horn, traces of paint and gilding
  • Dimensions: without wooden base: 50 1/2 x 60 1/2 in. (128.3 x 153.7 cm)
  • Classification: Bone
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.489
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters
More Artwork
Altar Predella and Socle of Archbishop Don Dalmau de Mur y Cervelló, Francí Gomar  Spanish, Alabaster with traces of paint and gilding, Spanish
Francí Gomar
ca. 1456–1458
Hexagonal Casket, North Italian Workshop, Wood, bone, paint, gilding, iron, velvet, and metal-wrapped textile, North Italian
North Italian Workshop
early 15th century
Triptych, Elephant ivory, paint, gilding  with metal mounts, North French
North French
1250–1260
Cabinet frontal with panels from two Embriachi caskets, Baldassare degli Embriachi (Workshop) Italian, Bone and Certosina (inlays of stained woods, bone and horn) with traces of gilding, Italian
Baldassare degli Embriachi
ca. 1400–1409
Fragments of a Box representing the Quest for the Golden Fleece, Embriachi Workshop, Bone (in modern painted wood frame), North Italian
possibly Embriachi Workshop
first third 15th century

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