Plaque with Christ in Majesty
Unknown Artist
ca. 1050–1100
Medium
Cloisonné enamel on gilded copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 4 15/16 x 3 1/8 x 1/8in. (12.5 x 7.9 x 0.3cm)
Classification
Enamels-Champlevé
Culture
South French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.696
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Plaque with Christ in*, a exquisite example of South French medieval artistry from around 1050–1100. Crafted by an unknown artist during the Romanesque period, this yet powerful plaque (just under 5 inches tall) depicts Christ enthron in glory, a timeless icon of divine authority and salvation. Likely part of a larger religious object like a book cover or reliquary, captures the era's fervent spirituality amid the Crusades and monastic reforms. The plaque's medium—cloisonné enamel on gilded copper alloy—showcases a sophisticated technique where thin metal wires form compartments f...