Synagoge
1435
Meet Synagogue, a personification of the Old Testament who looks like she’s having a really bad day. Dressed in a heavy, golden-yellow gown that pools around her feet like melted butter, she stands in a stone niche clutching stone tablets inscribed with ancient text that are slipping from her grasp. In her other hand, she holds a staff with a tattered, drooping banner, symbolizing the end of an era. Painted by Konrad Witz in 1435, this figure is part of a classic medieval allegory where 'Synagogue' is depicted as blind or sleeping to represent the transition from the Old Law to the New Testament. The heavy, sculptural folds of her dress show Witz's incredible skill in rendering fabric, making her look almost like a statue come to life.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
- Material
- Wood
Location: Kunstmuseum Basel