Panel

Art Historical Context

This striking oak panel, crafted by an unknown French artist in the 15th century, exemplifies the masterful woodwork of late medieval Europe. Standing nearly 6½ feet tall and weighing over 40 pounds, its substantial dimensions—76 x 25¾ x 2⅛ inches—suggest it once formed part of larger furniture or architectural elements, such as a screen, chest, or room paneling. Oak, a durable and richly grained hardwood abundant in France, was the preferred medium for such pieces, prized for its resistance to wear and ability to take fine carving or inlay. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval...