The Resurrection, from an Altar Frontal Italy, Florence, 14th century

The Resurrection, from an Altar Frontal

1375–1400

Italy, Florence, 14th century

Silk, gold and cotton thread, linen; raised work, embroidery: split, stem, and couching stitches

Overall: 29.2 x 41.9 cm (11 1/2 x 16 1/2 in.); Mounted: 38.7 x 51.4 cm (15 1/4 x 20 1/4 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1929.904

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Description

This scene of the Resurrection, along with 11 additional embroideries of the life of Christ, may have formed an altar frontal, a hanging decorating the front of an altar. Originally, expensive gold thread covered the background, but it was removed and probably melted down for its monetary value. The loss of the gold exposes a rarely seen preparatory drawing on the linen ground created by an unidentified painter. Now exposed, thick cotton thread forms scrolling vines that, when covered with radiant gold thread, would have paralleled the effect of raised plaster decoration in paintings. What does survive is of the highest quality and refinement, including more than 20 brilliant shades of silk thread.