Christ Gathering Roses, Centerpiece of an Altar Cloth(?)

early to mid-1400s

Christ Gathering Roses, Centerpiece of an Altar Cloth(?), early to mid-1400s. German, Unassigned. Linen: plain weave; silk: embroidery (split stitch); overall: 85.1 x 92.1 cm (33 1/2 x 36 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Elizabeth and Martin David in memory of the Heidenhain family 2021.238 The altar cloth was probably made for a southern German convent in the 15th century. While the focus on the Christ child is typical for female spirituality in the late Middle Ages, there are no comparative examples for the Christ child picking flowers. The detailed depiction of plants and flowers is of unusual quality for the embroideries of this period. The Christ child has put aside his globe to devote himself entirely to picking flowers.