Monstrance or Agnus Dei frame
mid-19th century
Medium
walnut
Dimensions
Overall: 12 3/16 × 10 1/8 in. (31 × 25.7 cm) Sight: 5 3/16 × 4 1/16 in. (13.2 × 10.3 cm) Rabbet: 5 7/8 × 4 13/16 in. (15 × 12.2 cm)
Classification
Frames
Culture
Italian, Rome
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975 1975.1.2182
Accession Number
1975.1.2182
Art Historical Context
This exquisite walnut frame, crafted in Rome during the mid-19 century, was designed to encase either a monstrance—a ornate vessel for displaying the consecrated Eucharistic host—or an Agnus Dei the symbolic Lamb of God emblem central to Catholic devotion. Measuring about 12 by 10 inches overall, its intricate carving reflects the skilled woodworking traditions of papal Rome, a hub of religious art where such frames elevated sacred objects during processions and adoration rituals. Fashioned from richly grained walnut, a durable and prized wood in Italian craftsmanship, the frame exemplifies t...
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...