Missale Romanum (Roman Missal)
ca. 1710
Medium
Silver over wood, repoussé and chased, with burnished punchwork; cast clasps
Dimensions
11 13/16 × 8 11/16 × 3 1/8 in. (30 × 22 × 8 cm)
Classification
Missal Cover
Culture
Peruvian
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Nancy Dunn Revocable Trust Gift, 2018
Accession Number
2018.220
Art Historical Context
This stunning *Missale Romanum* cover, dating to around 1710, originates from colonial Peru and would have protected a Roman Missal—the essential liturgical book used in Catholic Mass celebrations. Crafted during the Spanish Viceroyalty era, it exemplifies the lavish religious artistry commissioned for churches and elite clergy, blending European influences with skilled local metalworking traditions. The cover's medium of silver over a wooden core highlights virtuoso silversmithing techniques:oussé and chasing create raised, detailed reliefs by hammering the metal from behind and refining it ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...