RELIQUARY DIPTYCH (THE CRUCIFIXION, THE NATIVITY, SAINTS ONOPHRIUS, ELIZABETH OF
HUNGARY, STEPHEN PROTOMARTYR, BARTHOLOMEW, LAWRENCE, JOHN THE BAPTIST, ANDREW AND
GEORGE)
Artist Lo Scheggia (Giovanni di Ser Giovanni) San Giovanni Valdarno, 1406 – Florence, 1486
Date third quarter of the 15th century Object type painting
Medium, technique tempera and gold on wood Dimensions 18.7 × 26.3 cm
Inventory number 1288
Collection Old Master Paintings
On view Museum of Fine Arts, First Floor, European Art 1250-1600, Cabinet 17
Painted in the style of a miniature, this small diptych shows, in its upper fields, the first and last moments in the life of Christ: the Nativity and the Crucifixion. In the lower fields, standing in front of a gold background, symbolising the heavenly sphere, are eight saints, who can be recognised by their attributes (the objects they are holding), their age and their clothing and hairstyle. The coat-of-arms of the commissioner can be seen in the bottom right corner of the left panel. The diptych once also served as a reliquary: the rectangular cavities, which are now filled in, probably once held the earthly remains of saints. The reverse is painted to resemble an inlay of precious stones.
This diptych is attributed to an artist known by the nickname of Lo Scheggia, who was the younger brother of the founder of Renaissance painting, Masaccio.
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