This work consists of multiple parts

Crucifixion, Virgin and Child, Deacon and Scenes from the Legends of Saints Matthew and John the Evangelist, ca. 1345 – 1350

Gesamtmaß: 98.5 x 71.4 x 2.5 cm

Physical Description: Poplar

Inventory Number: 995

Object Number: 995 a-c

Acquisition: Acquired in 1865 in an exchange with the Frankfurt Verein für Geschichte und Alterthumskunde

Status: See Parts

Texts

About the Work

Attributed to Pietro Lorenzetti and his workshop, this polyptych is like a miniature version of a large altarpiece. In the centre are depictions of the Crucifixion and the enthroned Virgin and Child with a kneeling deacon. The left-hand side recounts the calling and martyrdom of St Matthew, while the sections on the right show St John on the island of Patmos and his ascension to heaven. Parts of the latter scene reveal the influence of Giotto’s fresco in Santa Croce in Florence. This wittily devised pictorial narrative is crowned by a row of saints and the Annunciation.

Audio

Basic information

01:34
Focus on religion

02:10

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Crucifixion, Virgin and Child, Deacon and Scenes from the Legends of Saints Matthew and John the Evangelist

Painter

Pietro Lorenzetti workshop

Panel: Crucifixion, Virgin and Child with a Deacon; Calling and Martyrdom of Saint Matthew; Saint John the Evangelist on Patmos, his Ascension

Period Produced

14th century

School

Late Middle Ages

Object Type

painting (artwork)

Physical Description: Poplar

Material

poplar wood

Technique

mixed technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture: Bezeichnet auf Titulus der Kreuzigungsszene auf 995A: "INRI"
Bezeichnet auf Schriftband im rechten Bogenzwickel auf 995A: "ABR[A]"
Bezeichnet auf Schriftband im linken Bogenzwickel auf 995B: "DESAUL"
Bezeichnet auf Schriftband im rechten Bogenzwickel auf 995B: "DACORE"

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright: Public Domain

Acquisition: Acquired in 1865 in an exchange with the Frankfurt Verein für Geschichte und Alterthumskunde

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre

Persons Shown

Associated Persons and Institutions

Illustrated Passage

siehe Einzeldarstellung

Iconclass

Primary

73D643 crucified Christ with Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene
73D642 crucified Christ with Mary Magdalene, who usually weeps and embraces the cross
31A2331 kneeling on both knees
73D58 the superscription: I(esus) N(azarenus) R(ex) I(udaeorum) ~ Christ's crucifixion
11I62(DAVID) David (not in biblical context); possible attributes: crown, harp
11I62(ABRAHAM)7 Abraham (not in biblical context); possible attribute: knife - other activities, relationships, etc. of male persons from the Old Testament
11FF4222 Mary sitting or enthroned, the Christ-child sitting on her knee (Christ-child to Mary's left) - FF - the Christ-child to Mary's right
73F28 life and acts of Matthew (Levi)
11H(MATTHEW)31 the apostle and evangelist Matthew (Mattheus); possible attributes: angel, axe, book, halberd, pen and inkhorn, purse, scroll, square, sword - vocation, conversion of male saint
73F2851 Matthew is slain before an altar by soldiers of Hirtacus and is beheaded
73F23 life and acts of John the Evangelist
73G111 an angel sent by Christ appears to John on Patmos
11H(JOHN)7 St. John the Evangelist is received and crowned in heaven by Christ and the apostles
11HH(CATHERINE) the virgin martyr Catherine of Alexandria; possible attributes: book, crown, emperor Maxentius, palm-branch, ring, sword, wheel
11H(NICHOLAS) the bishop Nicholas of Myra (or Bari); possible attributes: anchor, boat, three golden balls (on a book), three purses, three children in a tub, three maidens
11H(LAURENCE) the martyr and deacon Laurence of Rome; possible attributes: book, censer, cross, dalmatic, gridiron, palm, purse (or cup with golden coins)

Secondary

11H saints
11P3113 archbishop, bishop, etc. (Roman Catholic)
49MM32 book - MM - book open

Alternative

11H(STEPHEN) the deacon and (proto)martyr Stephen; possible attributes: censer, stones
11H(JEROME) the monk and hermit Jerome (Hieronymus); possible attributes: book, cardinal's hat, crucifix, hour-glass, lion, skull, stone