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The Betrayal of Christ
(Medieval Europe )
This fragment of a large French altar frontal shows the Betrayal of Christ by Judas. In a dramatic composition with elongated figures typical of the Gothic style, Christ is kissed by Judas and thus identified for arrest by Roman soldiers. At the left of the scene, one of Christ's followers cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant, an act condemned by Christ with his outstretched hand. This gilt copper relief was once attached to a panel that also included areas of enamelwork, and was probably made in Limoges, a city renowned for enamel and other metalwork from the twelfth century through the end of the Middle Ages. This and other scenes would have formed an unusually large altar frontal, and the narrative of Christ's sacrifice would have resonated with the central Eucharistic ritual performed at the altar.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henri Daguerre, Paris; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1998-2001 | Highlights from the Collection. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1999-2000 | Vive la France! French Treasures from the Middle Ages to Monet. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1996 | Enamels of Limoges. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
| 1966-1967 | Treasures from Medieval France. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. |
| 1953-1957 | 4000 Years of Modern Art. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore. |
Geographies
France, Limoges (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 13 11/16 x W: 10 1/2 x D: 2 3/8 in. (34.8 x 26.7 x 6.1 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1925
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
53.10