Plaque with The Betrayal of Christ
15th century
Medium
Painted enamel, copper
Dimensions
Overall (without frame): 9 13/16 x 9 1/8 x 1/16 in. (24.9 x 23.2 x 0.2 cm)
Classification
Enamels-Painted
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.704
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 15th-century plaque, titled *The Betrayal of Christ* and crafted by the French enameler Monvaern, captures a pivotal moment from the Passion of Christ: Judas's treacherous kiss in the Garden ofethsemane. Measuring just under 10 inches square, this delicate painted enamel on copper exemplifies the medieval artistry of Limoges workshops, where enameling flourished as an accessible yet luxurious medium for religious devotion. Painted enamels like this one involved firing finely ground glass colors onto a copper base, creating vibrant, jewel-like hues that endure centuries. Monvaer...