Plaque of Christ in Majesty

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Plaque of Christ in*, a luminous gem from 12th–13th France, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art department. This small copper plaque (just 7 3/8 x 6 5/16 inches) captures Christ enthroned in divine glory—a quintessential Romanesque icon, symbolizing his eternal power and judgment. Such images adorned churches, altars, and reliquaries, inspiring awe in medieval worshippers and reminding them of Christ's supremacy. Crafted using the champlevé enamel technique, the artist carved shallow channels into the copper base, filled them with vibrant powdered glass enamels in rich blues, reds, and golds, then fired it to create a durable, glowing mosaic-like surface. This method, perfected in French workshops during the High Middle Ages, allowed for intricate details and jewel-toned colors that mimicked precious gems, making enamels highly prized luxury objects despite their modest size. A generous gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, this plaque exemplifies the technical mastery and spiritual fervor of medieval French artisans. Gaze closely at its preserved brilliance, a window into a world where faith and craftsmanship intertwined seamlessly.