Roundel with Mary of Egypt crossing the Jordan

Art Historical Context

This delicate roundel, created around 1525 in the South Netherlands, captures a pivotal moment from the legend of Saint Mary of Egypt. The scene shows the former desert ascetic crossing the Jordan River, guided or witnessed by angels—a story that highlighted themes of repentance and divine grace for viewers in the early sixteenth century. Crafted from colorless glass with vitreous paint and silver stain, the circular panel would have glowed with warm golden tones when light passed through it, a technique that allowed artists to achieve luminous effects without the heavy leading of traditional ...