Predella
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The predella features a depiction of the “Man of Sorrows“. This panel painting was created around 1520 CE.
“Man of Sorrows” is a biblical term and is paramount among the prefigurations of the Messiah. It is also an iconic devotional image that shows Christ, usually naked above the waist, with the wounds prominently displayed on his hands and side, often crowned with the Crown of Thorns and sometimes attended by angels. It developed in Europe from the 13th century and was especially popular in Northern Europe.
A medieval predella is a small, decorative panel or series of panels placed at the bottom of an altarpiece, typically just below the main artwork. It often depicts additional scenes or events related to the central theme of the altarpiece, such as moments from the life of Christ or saints.
The predella served both a visual and functional purpose. It helped to balance the overall structure of the altarpiece and provided further narrative details for the viewer. These lower panels could be either painted or sculpted and were an important part of altarpieces during the medieval period.
Predella | Labelled Images
