High Altar of the Dominican Church in Frankfurt: Tree of Jesse, 1501

Title

High Altar of the Dominican Church in Frankfurt: Tree of Jesse

Painter

• Hans Holbein the Elder

Altar

Exterior Wings of the Frankfurt Dominican Altarpiece

Period Produced

• 16th century

School

• Renaissance

Object Type

• painting (artwork)

Physical Description

Mixed technique on spuce wood

Material

• spruce wood

Technique

• mixed technique

Label at the Time of Manufacture

Beischrift des Mannes unten links: ·IOSAPAHT·
Beischrift des Mannes unten rechts: ·IORAM·
Beischrift des bartlosen Mannes ganz links: ·ACHAS·
Beischrift des rot gekleideten Mannes rechts: ·EZECHIAS·
Beischrift des bärtigen Mannes oben links: ·IOSIAS·
Beischrift des bärtigen Mannes oben rechts: ·IHECONIAS·
Inschrift auf der oberen Rahmung der gemalten Steinnische: ·VIRGO·DEI·GENITRIX ·VIRGA·EST·FLOS·FILIVS·EIVS·

Institution

• Städel Museum

Departement

• Old Masters 1300 - 1800

Collection

• permanent loan

Creditline

Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Dauerleihgabe des Historischen Museums Frankfurt am Main

Picture Copyright

Public Domain

Acquisition

On permanent loan from Historisches Museum Frankfurt am Main since 1922

Genre

• altarpiece
• Biblical portrayal
• historical narration

Main Motif

• genealogical chart
• Mary
• Christ Child
• Jehoshaphat (King of Israel)
• Ahaz (king of Judah)
• Josiah (King of Judah)
• Jeconiah (King of Israel)
• Ezekiel
• Joram (King of Israel)
• man
• woman
• child
• group of people

Persons Shown

• Mary
• Christ Child
• Jehoshaphat (king of Judah)
• Ahaz (king of Judah)
• Josiah (king of Judah)
• Jechonias (king of Judah)
• Ezekiel (prophet)
• Jehoram (king of Judah)

Associated Persons and Institutions

• Adam
• Eve

Illustrated Passage

• Bibel, Altes Testament, Jesaja 11,1-10

Primary

• 42G1 family lineage, pedigree, genealogical tree or table
• 73A21 tree of Jesse: genealogical tree showing Christ's ancestors, sprouting from Jesse's loins
• 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
• 11I62(JOSAPHAT) male persons from the Old Testament (JOSAPHAT) (JOSAPHAT)
• 11I62(AHAZ) male persons from the Old Testament (AHAZ) (AHAZ)
• 11I62(JOSCHIJA) male persons from the Old Testament (JOSCHIJA) (JOSCHIJA)
• 11I62(JECHONIAS) male persons from the Old Testament (JECHONIAS) (JECHONIAS)
• 11I62(EZEKIEL) Ezekiel (not in biblical context); possible attributes: book or scroll, double wheel
• 11I62(JEHORAM) male persons from the Old Testament (JEHORAM) (JEHORAM)

Secondary

• 44B191 crown (symbol of sovereignty)