Reliquary bust of a bishop-saint

A fire-gilt bronze bust shows a bearded bishop with a stern, weary face, wearing a richly chased cope with scrolling ornament. A dark glass panel framed in gilt ornament sits at the chest, likely a reliquary opening. The plain grey backdrop focuses attention on the metalwork.

Look closer: A dark glass panel set in an ornate gilt frame at the chest, likely a reliquary opening.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Bronze, fire-gilt; glass

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

4000 × 2978 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968