Triptych, an image of Infantia Christi in the centre, depictions of saints on the wings
1460-70 / 1574
Limewood, tempera
Central image: 60 x 50 cm; wings: 60 x 20 cm
Inv. 56.477.1
The central image of the triptych is a rare depiction of the Infantia Christi (Infancy of Christ), infused with complex meaning. It bears traces of restoration work—both medieval and present-day.
On the left wing is a depiction of St. John the Baptist and St. Giles, and on the right is St. Elizabeth and St. Odile; a presumably later inscription identifies the latter as St. Barbara.
The original depiction on the exterior wings is unknown. The inscription allows us to confidently date the images of the kneeling donor and the figure of Christ tied to the whipping post to 1574.
The inscription on the banderol reads: MISE[RER]E MEI DEVS [etc] • Johannis Haÿm Themaren(sis) Cappell(anus) hui(us) Capellae •
Above the donor’s head, on a red background is the date: ANNO D(OMI)NI 1 • 5 • 7 4 •
The donor was certainly Johannes Hayn of the town Themar in Thuringia. He was the vicar of the Augsburg cathedral and the author of numerous hymns and hymnals. The two crickets (‘Heimchen’) on the coat of arms at his feet also refer to his name.
Provenance:
Ipolyi Collection. ‘122. Triptych. In the centre Mary with the baby Jesus and an angel who points to the tools of the Passion on the shield. On the wings St. John the Baptist and St. Erasmus /?/, and on the other St. Elizabeth and St. Dorothy. An old (early 16th-century) severely damaged work, completely modernized. The heads especially are renewed. On the exterior the abraded image of the donor.’ (Lakatos-Balla 2012, 277)
Restoration:
Lajos Nikássy (?); Dezső Varga, c. 1960; Márta Blaski, (1976-77) (Restoration work was done several times, with at least two, partly medieval overpaintings registered, but these were partially removed. A significant portion of the surface was overpainted.
The work was X-rayed and UV luminescent photos and infrared reflectograms were made.)
Bibliography
Uj Magyar Sion 1 (1870), 374. – Bihar-vármegye 1898, 122 sz. – Genthon-1948, 124. – Boskovits-Mojzer-Mucsi-1964, 164. – Urbach Zsuzsa: “Ego sum deus et homo”. Eine seltene Darstellung der Infantia Christi auf einem Triptychon des Christlichen Museums in Esztergom (Gran). In: Acta Histopriae Artium 36 (1993), 57-76. – Magyar Szentek tisztelete és ereklyéi. Esztergom 2000, 123. – Lakatos-Balla-2012, 2012, 277.
On the left wing is a depiction of St. John the Baptist and St. Giles, and on the right is St. Elizabeth and St. Odile; a presumably later inscription identifies the latter as St. Barbara.
The original depiction on the exterior wings is unknown. The inscription allows us to confidently date the images of the kneeling donor and the figure of Christ tied to the whipping post to 1574.
The inscription on the banderol reads: MISE[RER]E MEI DEVS [etc] • Johannis Haÿm Themaren(sis) Cappell(anus) hui(us) Capellae •
Above the donor’s head, on a red background is the date: ANNO D(OMI)NI 1 • 5 • 7 4 •
The donor was certainly Johannes Hayn of the town Themar in Thuringia. He was the vicar of the Augsburg cathedral and the author of numerous hymns and hymnals. The two crickets (‘Heimchen’) on the coat of arms at his feet also refer to his name.
Provenance:
Ipolyi Collection. ‘122. Triptych. In the centre Mary with the baby Jesus and an angel who points to the tools of the Passion on the shield. On the wings St. John the Baptist and St. Erasmus /?/, and on the other St. Elizabeth and St. Dorothy. An old (early 16th-century) severely damaged work, completely modernized. The heads especially are renewed. On the exterior the abraded image of the donor.’ (Lakatos-Balla 2012, 277)
Restoration:
Lajos Nikássy (?); Dezső Varga, c. 1960; Márta Blaski, (1976-77) (Restoration work was done several times, with at least two, partly medieval overpaintings registered, but these were partially removed. A significant portion of the surface was overpainted.
The work was X-rayed and UV luminescent photos and infrared reflectograms were made.)
Bibliography
Uj Magyar Sion 1 (1870), 374. – Bihar-vármegye 1898, 122 sz. – Genthon-1948, 124. – Boskovits-Mojzer-Mucsi-1964, 164. – Urbach Zsuzsa: “Ego sum deus et homo”. Eine seltene Darstellung der Infantia Christi auf einem Triptychon des Christlichen Museums in Esztergom (Gran). In: Acta Histopriae Artium 36 (1993), 57-76. – Magyar Szentek tisztelete és ereklyéi. Esztergom 2000, 123. – Lakatos-Balla-2012, 2012, 277.
