Abraham before Melchizedek
1435
Imagine a medieval king and a knight having a very serious meeting—that's the vibe here. Melchizedek, the priest-king, sits in flowing red robes and a funky green hat, handing over a golden chalice topped with bread to Abraham. Abraham isn't wearing biblical rags; he's decked out in shiny, contemporary 15th-century plate armor, kneeling respectfully with open hands. Konrad Witz painted this around 1435 as part of an altarpiece. It's a fascinating mix of old and new: the flat, patterned gold background screams 'Medieval,' but the realistic, clanking armor and the heavy folds in the red fabric show the artist pushing toward the realism of the Renaissance. It's essentially a visual sermon about the Eucharist, disguised as a royal handshake.
Location: Kunstmuseum Basel