Panel
Unknown Artist
15th century
Medium
Red pine, gilding and polychromy
Dimensions
Overall: 31 5/8 x 10 1/2 x 1 in. (80.3 x 26.7 x 2.5 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Architectural
Culture
French
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co. Inc., in memory of Joseph Breck, 1934
Accession Number
34.46.1
Art Historical Context
This elegant 15th-century French, crafted from red pine and adorned with gilding and polychromy exemplifies the exquisite woodwork of late medieval Europe. Measuring 31 5/8 x 10 1/2 x 1 inches, its slender form suggests it once formed part of an architectural ensemble—perhaps a screen, wainscoting, or enclosure in a church or noble residence. The use of red pine, a durable yet workable softwood, allowed carvers to achieve intricate details, while layers of gold leaf (gilding) and vibrant paints (polychromy) brought a luminous, jewel-like quality, mimicking the opulence of stone sculpture or il...