GERMAN, RHENISH, SECOND HALF 14TH CENTURY | A DEESIS

Private Collection, Bremen, Krefeld

Ancient Greek for prayer or supplication, a 'deesis' is also a depiction of three figures comprising Christ flanked by the Virgin and John the Baptist. In art, this representation became widespread north of the alps in the 13th century but in Germany, the iconography is rare.

Here, Christ sits on a throne-like bench, facing the viewer as the Judge of the World. His mantle covers His shoulders but exposes the wound on His abdomen and His stigmata; the signs of redemption are readily recognizable on His hands and feet. The Virgin Mary and St. John are kneeling beside Him in keeping with their roles as intercessors between God and mankind.

RELATED LITERATURE

Manfred Fath, 'Der Weltenrichter der Mainzer Westlettner-Deesis und seine

Nachfolge' in Mainzer Zeitschrift. Mittelrheinisches Jahrbuch

für Archäologie, pp. 97-101;

Anton Legner, Rheinische Kunst und das Kölner Schnüttgenmuseum, Cologne,

1991, pp. 221, 255, 256