Folding Devotional Shrine with Scenes from Christ's Passion

ca. 1350

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 306

Some private devotional objects were intended to encourage meditation on the events of the Passion in great detail, cultivating a feeling of personal presence. Narrative carvings may have aided in such intense visualization. This particular choice of scenes is striking in its attention to Pontius Pilate, its depiction of both the raising of the cross and Jesus nailed to the cross, and its inclusion of the rare episode of the stripping and buffeting of Christ.

Artwork Details

Title: Folding Devotional Shrine with Scenes from Christ's Passion
Date: ca. 1350
Geography: Made in Rhineland, France or Germany
Culture: French or German
Medium: Elephant Ivory, with modern paint, gilding, and metal mounts
Dimensions: Overall (open): 9 7/16 x 12 11/16 x 3/8 in. (23.9 x 32.2 x 1 cm)
Overall (closed): 9 7/16 x 3 1/8 x 1 5/8 in. (23.9 x 8 x 4.2 cm)
Classification: Ivories-Elephant
Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number: 17.190.205
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

Audio

3140. Polyptych with Scenes from Christ's Passion

0:00

We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Plaque with the Descent from the Cross, Elephant ivory, whale bone, traces of paint, and gilding, French — Plaque with the Descent from the Cross
French
ca. 1320–40

Booklet with Scenes of the Passion, Elephant ivory, polychromy, and gilding, North French (carving); Upper Rhenish (painting) — Booklet with Scenes of the Passion
North French (carving); Upper Rhenish (painting)
ca. 1300 (carving); ca. 1310–20 (painting)

Box with Romance Scenes, Elephant ivory, French — Box with Romance Scenes
French
ca. 1310–30

Crucified Christ, Elephant ivory, traces of polychromy, French — Crucified Christ
French
ca. 1260–80

Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and Noli Me Tangere, Elephant ivory, traces of gilding, Spanish — Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and Noli Me Tangere
Spanish
ca. 1115–20

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.