The Burial of Saint Wenceslas
The Met
Artist: Master of Eggenburg(Austrian, Tirol, active 1490–1500)
Date: ca. 1490–1500
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil and gold on spruce
Dimensions: Painted surface, including black border, 27 1/8 x 17 in. (68.9 x 43.2 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of William Rosenwald, 1944
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Five men placing a crowned figure into a stone sarcophagus within a vaulted, columned chamber
Detailed Description
The vertical rectangular painting depicts a scene within a vaulted, columned chamber. In the lower half, five men are shown lowering or adjusting a crowned figure into a large, light-colored stone sarcophagus with a stepped base. The figure in the sarcophagus wears a long, deep red robe with white trim and a gold crown, and has a golden halo around their head. Their skin is pale. To the left, a man in a blue tunic, red hose, and a red hat holds the figure's legs. Another man in a red tunic and blue sleeves supports the figure's midsection. On the right, a man in a green tunic and red hat leans over the sarcophagus, touching the figure's chest. Behind him, a man in a brown robe and a gold hat supports the figure's head, which has a pale face and a short beard. A fifth man, also in a brown robe, stands further back, looking towards the sarcophagus. The men have varied facial appearances and hair colors. The upper half of the painting reveals the architectural interior. A series of gray columns with ornate capitals support a vaulted ceiling with pointed arches. Several arched windows with intricate tracery are visible in the background. On the far left, a raised platform holds a bed draped in red fabric, with a white pillow, a small open book, and a golden candlestick. To the right of the central column, a large, rectangular structure covered in green fabric rests on a stone base. In the upper right corner, three golden-haloed heads are visible behind this green structure, looking towards the central scene. The overall color palette includes rich reds, greens, blues, and browns against the neutral grays of the architecture and pale skin tones.
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