Reliquary Diptych

Unknown

late 14th century · Verre églomisé, polychromy, wood, and metal · Medieval Art

In his Craftsman's Handbook (about 1390), the Florentine artist Cennino Cennini outlines the "individual attractive, fine and unusual" process of gilding glass "for the embellishment of holy reliquaries." Here, small relics with identifying inscriptions are enclosed behind the decorated glass panels. The technique was often adopted for works made for Franciscans. This was surely the case here, since the reliquary features Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata and Saint Louis of Toulouse, as well as scenes of the Virgin and Christ child, Crucifixion, Saint Elizabeth (?), Saint Agnes, and Saint John the Baptist.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 14th century

Medium

Verre églomisé, polychromy, wood, and metal

Culture

Central Italian

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917