Plaque with the Crucifixion

Art Historical Context

This delicate ivory plaque, carved and painted by an unknown South Netherlandish artist around 1400–1425, the poignant Crucifixion scene with Christ on the cross and the sorrowful Virgin Mary at its base. Measuring just over 4 inches tall, its intimate scale made it ideal for private devotion—likely held in the hand during prayer or mounted in a prayer book. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art collection (gift of J. Pier Morgan, 1917), it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of late Gothic ivories from the southern Netherlands, a hub for such luxury objects. Ivory, prized for its creamy translucency and carvability, allowed artists to render fine details like flowing drapery and expressive faces, which painted traces enhance with vivid color. This technique heightened the emotional intensity of the Crucifixion, a core Christian motif symbolizing sacrifice and redemption, resonating deeply in an era of heightened religious fervor amid plagues and wars. South Netherlandish ivories like this one blended realism with spiritual symbolism, influencing devotional art across Europe and offering a window into medieval piety.