Saint Joseph (fragment from the Nativity)
Artist/Culture
Spoleto
Date1250–1300
Mediumfresco transferred to canvas
Dimensionspanel: 73.5 x 54 cm (28 15/16 x 21 1/4 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1932.1
Label TextThis fragment of a large fresco, painted around 1300 by an unknown artist, comes from a building near the town of Spoleto, about seventy miles north of Rome. Larger portions of frescoes, apparently by the same hand, may be seen in the Medieval Gallery (109).
In the original Nativity scene from which this fragment was taken, the Virgin and Child were seen lying in a cave-like shelter with St. Joseph seated below them and figures of a shepherd and a magus on the sides. Unfortunately, the painting was broken up after removal and the individual figures were sold separately to various American museums. This fragment shows St. Joseph in the pose of slight bewilderment and patient resignation which became traditional in such presentations.
ProvenanceJohn Levy, New York, NYOn View
Not on view
