The Lamentation
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Bronze, red-brown lacquer patina
Dimensions
4 3/16 × 3 1/8 in. (10.6 × 7.9 cm)
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
Italian, Venice
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Erich Lederer Collection, Gift of Mrs. Erich Lederer, 1986
Accession Number
1986.319.37
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, *The Lamentation* is poignant 16th-century bronzequette from Venice, Italy. Measuring just 4 3/16 × 3 1/8 inches, this intimate relief captures the sorrowful moment after Christ's crucifixion, with figures tenderly mourning his body—a timeless Christian theme evoking deep empathy. Its red-brown lacquer patina lends a warm, aged glow, enhancing the emotional depth of the scene. Crafted during the Renaissance, when Venice was a hub of artistic innovation, plaquettes like this were prized as affordable collector'...