Cleveland Museum of Art

Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery

Valerio Belli

Date

c. 1535 or later

Medium

gilt bronze (later perforated with a keyhole)

Culture

Italy, 16th century

Department

European Painting and Sculpture

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In the Gospel of John, a group of scribes and Pharisees, following the law of the Ten Commandments, intends to stone a woman who has committed adultery. The group first asks Christ's opinion of their actions, hoping to accuse him of heresy, but Christ ignores them by writing on the ground. When they persist Christ tells them, "He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." First and foremost a gem and rock crystal engraver, Belli's plaquettes are often casts made from designs he had already made in rock crystal. This work was cast after one of 24 carved rock crystal scenes from the life of Christ that adorned a silver gilt casket Belli created for Pope Clement VII in 1532. The keyhole cut into this plaquette was added later.

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