Cleveland Museum of Art

Frame with Winged Bull of Saint Luke on the back

Date

mid-1300s

Medium

gilt silver

Culture

Germany, Aachen, Byzantine period, 14th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This small-scale Byzantine icon depicts a half-length figure of the Virgin holding the Christ child. When the icon was mounted in its present frame by a German artist in the 14th century, it was considered to be an authentic portrait painted by Saint Luke. This claim, made in an inscription on the frame, is further emphasized by the ox, Saint Luke’s symbol, engraved on the frame’s reverse.

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