The scene depicts the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple. According to jewish law as first born he was to be liberated by an offering of five pieces of silver brought to the temple forty days after his birth (see Luke 2:22 ff.).
The old priest Simeon holds
The scene depicts the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple. According to jewish law as first born he was to be liberated by an offering of five pieces of silver brought to the temple forty days after his birth (see Luke 2:22 ff.).
The old priest Simeon holds the child on a velvet cushion over the altar and recognizes him as the Messiah. In front of the altar a young woman in a red dress kneels and offers two cooped up doves as an additional sacrifice for the ritual of purification after birth. The youth of this figure suggests it is the Virgin whereas an older veiled woman, who stands opposite Simeon at the altar and folds her hands in an attitude of prayer is probably the widowed Hanna who lead a pious life in the temple and is shown here blessing the infant Christ.
[Görres, cda 2015]
- Attribution
- Master of the Pflock Altarpiece
Attribution
Master of the Pflock Altarpiece | [Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998, No. 23.5] [Auct. Cat. Bamberg 1995, No. 24] |
- Production date
- about 1520
Production date
about 1520 | [Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998, No. 23.5] [Auct. Cat. Bamberg 1995, No. 24] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 110 x 75 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 110 x 75 cm
[Auct. Cat. Bamberg 1995, No. 24]
- Signature / Dating
None
- Owner
- Private Collection
- Repository
- Private Collection
- CDA ID
- PRIVATE_NONE-P100
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FRSup003
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P100/