altar-frontal
- Museum number
- 1884,0606.6
- Description
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Part of an altar frontal; silver gilt thread and coloured silks in underside couching split stitch and laid-and-couched work on linen.The left scene depicts Christ's Charge to Peter, the right scene depicts the Betrayal. Each scene enclosed by a crocketed arch supported by a foliated capital, on the central capital the inscription, 'MCCCXC / ROMA'.
- Production date
- 1300-1350 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 61 centimetres (with mount board)
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Height: 55 centimetres
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Width: 71 centimetres (with mount board)
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Width: 61 centimetres
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Depth: 1.50 centimetres (mount board)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Text from Alexander & Binski 1987, see bibiliography:
'The scenes are Christ's Charge to Peter and the Betrayal. The presence of a scourge at the right edge indicates that the third scene was the Flagellation, which was presumably followed by further Passion subjects. On the foliate capital between the two extant scenes is an embroidered inscription 'MCCCXC ROMA'. It is perfectly credible that the embroidery was in Rome in 1390. The scene of Christ's Charge to Peter, unique in English medieval embroidery, suggests that the work may have been commissioned for papal use. A papal inventory taken at Avignon in 1369 records 'a great altar frontal of English work with scenes of the Passion of Christ'. In 1403 the collection of Jean, Duc de Berry, included 'a frontal of English embroidery with a number of scenes of the Passion of Christ within tabernacles made like masonry'; this frontal had a border of cloth of gold with applied coats or arms and the restricted height of English altar frontals like the present example is no doubt to be explained by the use of such borders.'
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2012-2013 Nov-Mar, Bonn, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle, Treasures of the World's Cultures
1987-1988 6 Nov-6 Mar, London, Royal Academy of Arts, Age of Chivalry: Art in Plantagenet England 1200-1400
- Acquisition date
- 1884
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1884,0606.6