George Washington
Unknown Artist
ca. 1825–50
Medium
Sardonyx
Dimensions
1 3/16 x 7/8 in. (3 x 2.2 cm)
Classification
Plaque
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
Accession Number
83.2.118
Tags
Art Historical Context
Israhel van Meckenem *De Passie* (The Passion), created between 1455 and 1503, captures a pivotal moment in Christian devotion during the Northern Renaissance. As a German engraver from Meckenheim near Cologne, van Meckenem was a of the medium, producing intricate prints that brought religious narratives to a broader audience. This work likely depicts scenes from Christ's Passion—the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection—reflecting the era's intense piety amid the late Gothic period's emotional intensity. Engraving, van Meckenem's specialty, involved incising fine lines into a copper plate...