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Altarpiece Containing Scenes from the Passion of Christ
Altarpiece Containing Scenes from the Passion of Christ

Image credit: Nottingham City Museums & Galleries

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This is one of only two near-complete Nottingham alabaster altarpieces in the country – the other is the Swansea Altarpiece in the Victoria and Albert Museum. In medieval times most alabaster panels would have been grouped together in altarpieces. The five panels read chronologically from left to right and show the Betrayal, Flagellation, Crucifixion, Entombment and Resurrection. In the first panel, Judas’ kiss identifies Christ to soldiers who will arrest him. In the second, Christ is humiliatingly whipped, in the third panel we see the Crucifixion with God the Father accepting Christ into heaven. The fourth panel shows Christ’s body in the tomb while his mother Mary mourns him. The fifth panel shows the moment of Resurrection when Christ emerges from the tomb, taking the sleeping soldiers guarding the tomb by surprise – Christ steps down over one in a humorous touch.

Nottingham Castle

Nottingham

Title

Altarpiece Containing Scenes from the Passion of Christ

Date

1450–1475

Medium

alabaster

Measurements

H 70 x W 165 x D 9.7 cm

Accession number

NCM 1982-641

Acquisition method

purchased from Sotheby's, 1982

Work type

Relief

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Normally on display at

Nottingham Castle

Lenton Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG1 6EL England

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