Head of Christ
The Met
Artist: Master of the Orcagnesque Misericordia(Italian, Florence, active second half 14th century)
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions: Overall, with engaged frame, 11 5/8 x 8 1/8 in. (29.5 x 20.6 cm); painted surface 9 5/8 x 6 1/8 in. (24.4 x 15.6 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of The Jack and Belle Linsky Foundation, 1981
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A bearded figure with a halo, flanked by two winged figures, against a gold background
Detailed Description
A central figure is depicted from the head to the upper chest, against a richly decorated gold background. The figure faces directly forward, with a pale, slightly green-tinged complexion, dark eyes, and a small, closed mouth with reddish lips. Long, wavy reddish-brown hair, parted in the middle, frames the face and extends over the shoulders. A short, reddish-brown beard and mustache are visible. A large, circular halo, intricately patterned with punched and incised gold designs, surrounds the figure's head. The figure wears a dark blue garment, visible at the bottom of the composition. In the upper corners, two winged figures are depicted in profile, facing towards the center. They wear dark blue robes with gold detailing and have dark wings. Both winged figures raise their hands, with the left winged figure appearing to hold a small, light-colored object. The gold background is extensively patterned with small red and blue floral motifs and geometric designs. Along the very bottom edge of the composition, a dark blue band contains white, capitalized text that reads "ECCE HOMO DOLORIS". The entire composition is framed by a raised, gold border with a beaded pattern.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
