Martyrdom of the Seven Maccabee Brothers and Their Mother
ca. 1530–35
Medium
Stained glass
Dimensions
Overall: 27 3/4 × 18 1/2 in. (70.5 × 47 cm); Framed (confirmed): 28 1/2 × 19 5/16 × 5/8 in. (72.4 × 49.1 × 1.6 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
Flemish, Antwerp
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac D. Fletcher Collection, Bequest of Isaac D. Fletcher, 1917
Accession Number
17.120.12
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning stained glass roundel, *Martyrdom of the Maccabee Brothers and Their* by Flemish artist Dirck Vell, dates to around 1530–35 and hails from Antwerp, a vibrant hub of Northern Renaissance art. Vellert, a master painter, captures the dramatic biblical story from 2 Maccabees, where a Jewish mother and her seven sons endure horrific torture by King Antiochus IV for refusing to renounce their faith. Vivid figures—including kings, men, even dogs—fill the composition, heightening the scene's emotional intensity and moral fervor. Crafted in the innovative Antwerp Mannerist style, the pan...