The Miracle of the Palm Tree on the Flight to Egypt

Unknown

ca. 1490–1510 · Walnut, gesso, paint, and gilding · Medieval Art

This sculpture, probably from a retable (decoration behind an altar) depicting Jesus commanding the palm tree to bend down so that the Holy Family could eat its fruit, is based upon New Testament Apocrypha, episodes from the life of Jesus not recounted in the Gospels. The composition is derived from an engraving by Martin Schongauer, dated about 1476.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1490–1510

Medium

Walnut, gesso, paint, and gilding

Culture

Spanish

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1938