Man of Sorrows

Date: ca. 1500

Culture: South German

Medium: Elephant ivory with paint and gilding

Dimensions: 3 3/8 x 2 9/16 x 13/32 in. (8.6 x 6.5 x 1.0 cm)

Classification: Ivories

Credit Line: The Cloisters Collection, 1999

Accession Number: 1999.227

Description

Christ, portrayed as at once dead and alive, is supported by Mary, his mother, and the apostle John. The flanking figures, witnesses to the Crucifixion, offer a model to emulate, during meditation and reflection on Christ's suffering. The composition of this relief is based on an engraving by Martin Schongauer, one of the most influential artists of the fifteenth century.

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