Triptych with the Madonna and Child, saints, and prophets, 1538
Pierre Reymondexpand_more
Enamel on copperexpand_more
Gift of Atherton and Winifred Beanexpand_more 88.53
On View in Gallery 342expand_more
This scene depicting the Virgin Mary, her infant son Jesus Christ, and various saints and prophets also includes the kneeling figure of Louise de Bourbon (1495–1545), a member of the French royal family (Note the inscription "LOYSE DE BOURBON" on the hem of her dark habit). She was the abbess of Fontevrault, an important religious foundation with a long history of royal patronage.
Enameled objects like this one were highly prized for the great artistry and technical skill required to make them. Enameling involves painting a metal surface with powdered glass, which is then fused to the metal by heating. Inserting gold or silver foil between layers of enamel, as was done here, makes the colors more luminous. The town of Limoges, in southwestern France, where this triptych was made, has been an important center of enamel production since the 12th century.
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Details
- Title
- Triptych with the Madonna and Child, saints, and prophets
- Artist Life
- French, c. 1513–1584
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 88.53
- Curator Approved
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