Icon of the Lamentation

Unknown

12th–13th century · Ivory · Medieval Art

The Lamentation over the body of the dead Christ is set between mountain peaks. The Virgin embraces Christ as he is being prepared for burial. Similar roughly carved icons have been associated with Venetian imitations of Byzantine art; more recently it has been suggested that they might be mementos of Crusader visits to sites in the Holy Land.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th–13th century

Medium

Ivory

Culture

Byzantine

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917