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Jesus Christ in Art: A Collection at The Metropolitan Museum

5 min read
Jesus Christ in Art: A Collection at The Metropolitan Museum

The Metropolitan Museum has a number of artworks related to Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. These artworks date back to various periods in history, and provide insight into how different cultures and religions have represented Jesus. Jesus is often depicted as a teacher or prophet, and is often shown with the Virgin Mary, his mother. Some of the artworks in The Metropolitan Museum also depict Jesus' crucifixion and death, which is said to have occurred for the sins of mankind.

The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Italian, Florence 1486–1530 Florence / The Met

    This painting was commissioned by Giovanni Borgherini at a time when Florence had freed itself of Medici dominance.
    The painting shows John the Baptist passing the orb to Christ, indicating him as sole ruler of the city.
    In 1532, the Medici family was reinstated violently and permanently as its rulers.

Madonna and Child

Italian, Venice, active by 1459–died 1516 Venice / The Met

    The painting depicts a group of figures separated from the viewer by a parapet.
    The figures are looking at the viewer and have their gazes engaged with the viewer.
    The painting is a metaphor for death and rebirth.

The Adoration of the Magi

Italian, Florentine, 1266/76–1337 / The Met

    This picture - at once austere and tender - belongs to a series of seven showing the life of Christ.
    The masterly depiction of the stable, which is viewed from slightly below, and the columnar solidity of the figures are typical of Giotto, the founder of European painting.

The Penitence of Saint Jerome

Netherlandish, Dinant or Bouvignes, active by 1515–died 1524 Antwerp / The Met

    Albrecht Durer referred to the artist in 1521 as the "good landscape painter." The picture’s true subject, however, is the magnificent panoramic landscape, which the viewer is encouraged to travel through visually in the manner of a pilgrimage.

The Adoration of the Magi

Netherlandish, Oudewater ca. 1455–1523 Bruges / The Met

    This painting was done in Antwerp, Belgium.
    The painting was influenced by Gerard David's work.
    The painting is of the Adoration of the Magi.

The Adoration of the Christ Child

Netherlandish, active Antwerp, ca. 1496–1518 / The Met

    The newborn Christ Child, encircled by an adoring group that includes his mother and father, shepherds, animals and angels, lies naked in a manger.
    Adoration scenes, many influenced by the visionary account of Saint Bridget of Sweden ca. 1303 - 1373, were painted for the open market in Antwerp
    This picture, unlike other extant examples associated with the Master of Frankfurt and his workshop, does not depict the scene under the night sky, a feature that reduces the dramatic effect of the scene.
   Yet other elements, like the streaming hair of several angels, lends the picture a feeling of flickering movement

The Adoration of the Magi

Netherlandish, active by 1460–died ca. 1480 / The Met

    This painting is a very rare surviving example of distemper, a water-based medium, on canvas.
    The artist was active both in his native Ghent, in modern Belgium, and at the refined court of Urbino in Italy.
    Three Black figures in the composition - the African king, the servant handing him his gift, and an observer in the crowd - reflect the increasing presence of Black individuals in western Europe, but their strikingly similar appearance raises the question of whether they derive from a single model or, instead, were based on an idealized type.

Reliquary

From 14th Century To 15th Century

From 14th Century To 15th Century

During the 14th and 15th centuries, artists in Europe began to break away from the traditional Gothic style. They began to experiment with new techniques and styles, resulting in a period of great creativity and innovation in the arts. Some of the most famous artworks from this period include the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and the sculptures of Donatello. Box with Romance Scenes     This coffret illustrated with scenes from Arthurian and other courtly literature of the M
-5 min read
From 1819 To 1826

From 1819 To 1826

The 19th century was a time of great change in the world of art. Artists began to experiment with new styles and media, and the art world was forever changed as a result. Some of the most famous artists of the time include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. The Falls of Niagara     The painting is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.     The painting is based on a vignette of the falls from a map of North America published by Henry S. Tanner in 1822. Heroic Landscape w
-4 min read
From 1787 To 1800

From 1787 To 1800

The 18th century was a time of great change in the world of art. New styles and genres emerged, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. The art of the 18th century reflected the changing times, and the growing interest in the natural world and the human form. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby     The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 and soon became one of the most popular comic performers of the day.  
-5 min read