Christ’s Descent into Limbo

Brabant or Rhineland, c. 1440, oak with traces of original and later polychromy

These three groups, from a large Crucifixion altar, reveal how colourful most Gothic sculpture originally was. During a recent restoration, small slivers of glass were found in the old pigment; this would have added to the glittering impression of the whole. Research of the oak shows that the sculptures were carved after c. 1420, the felling date of the tree.

  • Artwork typesculpture
  • Object numberBK-1962-33
  • Dimensionsheight 48.5 cm, height 97.8 cm x width 60.5 cm x depth 22.3 cm
  • Physical characteristicseikenhout met resten van originele en latere polychromie