Artwork Page for The Trinity

Details / Information for The Trinity

The Trinity

c. 1460

Laurent Girardin

(French, 1478)
Culture
France, Lyon
Medium
oil on wood
Measurements
Framed: 134.5 x 114.5 x 8 cm (52 15/16 x 45 1/16 x 3 1/8 in.); Unframed: 114 x 94.5 cm (44 7/8 x 37 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1960.79
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
110B Late Gothic
Print
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Did You Know?

When the painting was acquired in 1960 the artist was not yet identified.

Description

Fundamental to Christian belief, the Holy Trinity refers to the three divine persons in God—God the Father, here depicted wearing a papal tiara, God the Son, crucified on the cross, and the Holy Spirit, represented as a dove. Juxtaposed with the Trinity's austere depiction are cherubim bathed in radiant red light, possibly influenced by stained glass windows that Girardin also designed in Lyon. God the Father wears a liturgical vestment, a sumptuous and bejeweled cope, or cape, fastened below the neck, typically worn by clergy for processional occasions. It is made of opulent crimson velvet with gold thread forming a large pomegranate pattern.
A vertically oriented oil painting features Christ crucified on a cross, a dove perched above his head, wings open, and the larger-scale God standing behind him, wearing the cone-shaped papal crown and an ornate gold cloak. A sheer red with fine gold lines radiates behind him, through which cherubs are visible. In the corners sit angels, hands clasped in prayer. All have halos and light skin tone save for God's medium-light skin tone.

The Trinity

c. 1460

Laurent Girardin

(French, 1478)
France, Lyon

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