2-976-768 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Triptych with Virgin and Child, Saint John the Evangelist (left wing) and Mary Magdalene (right wing), c.1505-c.1525. The Virgin, seated beneath an ornate canopy in the centre panel, is supporting the Christ Child, who is seated on a cushion on a stone balustrade. The latter is holding a goldfinch, a symbol of his Passion, which is tied by a chain to a small majolica vase decorated with Christ’s monogram which holds red roses and lilies-of the-valley - symbols of Mary’s virginity. St John the Evangelist is shown on the left wing as an apostle, young and beardless. He is recognisable from his attribute of a chalice from which a small dragon is emerging. On the right wing, with her jar of ointment, is Mary Magdalen wearing a costly gown and jewellery in reference to her worldly life before she met Christ. She is also seen in the background as a penitent hermit after her conversion. The outer wings are painted in imitation marble; the left shows green marble and the right porphyry marble. The original frame around the centre panel is decorated with motifs borrowed from woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer Along the sides are three heroes from the Old Testament - Moses, David and Gideon - and three prophets. Moses appears again at the bottom seated between two owls, which are symbols of the synagogue. All these figures symbolise the Old Covenant, which was replaced by the New Covenant with Christ’s arrival on earth. Along the top of the frame are figures mounted on unicorns doing battle with others on lions, which is an allusion to female chastity vanquishing sensuality