Fragment of an Altarpiece with the Betrayal of Christ and the Suicide of Judas
1300–25
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
45.7 × 50.2 cm (18 × 19 3/4 in.)
Classification
relief
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13968
Art Historical Context
This limestone relief fragment, created by an unknown French artist between 1300 and 1325, once formed part of a larger altarpiece designed for a church setting. Measuring just 18 by 19¾ inches, the carved scene captures two dramatic moments from the Passion of Christ: the Betrayal, where Judas identifies Jesus with a kiss, and the subsequent suicide of Judas. Such narrative pairings were common in medieval religious art, guiding worshippers through the story of Christ’s final days. Carved in limestone, a material favored in northern France for its fine grain and workability, the relief would...
About the Artist
French
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...