Object Name
Artist/Maker
Object Type
Date
1500-1510
Medium
boxwood
Credit Line
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number
17.190.475
Location
Not currently on display
Institution/Owner
External Link
Dimensions
Overall Open (Diameter) : 52mm (5.2 cm)
Description
Polyptych: Upper scene: Adoration of the Magi; lower scene: Crucifixion; Left wing:Journey to Bethlehem and Nativity; Right wing: Presentation and the Offering of Doves; Exterior: Adam and Eve and Tree of Knowledge
Signature, Inscriptions, and Markings
Inscription
Carved Latin inscriptions:
LEVEMVS CORDA NOSTRA CVM MANIBVS AD DNM IN C[O]E[LOS] [Lamentations 3:41 -around outer upper]
ATTENDITE (ET) VIDETE SI EST DOLOR SICVT DOLOR MEV [Lamentations 1:12 - around outer lower] [translation: Attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow]
REGES THARSIS ET INSIL[A]E MVNERA OFFERENT REGES ARABVM ET SABA DONA ADDVCENT [Psalms 71:10 -around upper scene in Gothic letters]
VIDIT [IGITVR] MVLIER QVOD BONVM ESSET LIGNVM AD VESCENDVM [...] ET TVLIT DE FRVCTILLIVS ET COMEDIT DEDITQVE VIRO SVO [Genesis 3:6 - around scene formed by closed wings]
[source: Met site]
LEVEMVS CORDA NOSTRA CVM MANIBVS AD DNM IN C[O]E[LOS] [Lamentations 3:41 -around outer upper]
ATTENDITE (ET) VIDETE SI EST DOLOR SICVT DOLOR MEV [Lamentations 1:12 - around outer lower] [translation: Attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow]
REGES THARSIS ET INSIL[A]E MVNERA OFFERENT REGES ARABVM ET SABA DONA ADDVCENT [Psalms 71:10 -around upper scene in Gothic letters]
VIDIT [IGITVR] MVLIER QVOD BONVM ESSET LIGNVM AD VESCENDVM [...] ET TVLIT DE FRVCTILLIVS ET COMEDIT DEDITQVE VIRO SVO [Genesis 3:6 - around scene formed by closed wings]
[source: Met site]
Published References
Ellis, Lisa and Suda, Sasha (Eds). (2016). Small Wonders: Gothic Boxwood Miniatures, exhibition catalogue, 5 November 2016 - 22 January 2017. Toronto, ON: Art Gallery of Ontario. [p. 34, 87, 88, 96]
G. C. Williamson, Catalogue of the Collections of Jewels and Precious Works of Art: the property of J. Pierpont Morgan. London: Chiswick Press, 1910. no. 42, pp. 66, pl. XXV.; Kurt Dingelstedt, “Betnuss” Reallexikon zur deutschen Kunstgeschichte I Edited by Otto Schmitt (Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, 1948): 374; McConnell, Sophie, and Alvin Grossman. Metropolitan Jewelry. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991. p. 69.
G. C. Williamson, Catalogue of the Collections of Jewels and Precious Works of Art: the property of J. Pierpont Morgan. London: Chiswick Press, 1910. no. 42, pp. 66, pl. XXV.; Kurt Dingelstedt, “Betnuss” Reallexikon zur deutschen Kunstgeschichte I Edited by Otto Schmitt (Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, 1948): 374; McConnell, Sophie, and Alvin Grossman. Metropolitan Jewelry. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991. p. 69.
Catalogue Raisonné
Romanelli 21
Provenance
Provenance
Johannes Paul ; J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York (until 1913); Estate of J. Pierpont Morgan (1913–1917)
Previous Owner(s)
Johannes Paul
J. Pierpont Morgan