Getty Museum
The Torment of Thieves: Tondal Leads a Cow Across a Nail-studded Bridge
Creator
Simon MarmionFlemish Illuminator · 1450–1489
All works by this person →Not long after his death, Simon Marmion was praised by the poet Jean Lemaire de Belges as the "prince of illumination." This reputation probably owed much to the artist's proficiency in depicting nature and his skill as a storyteller. Marmion was especially gifted in the representation of light and the textures of objects, as well as the creation of engaging psychological content in the gestures a
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- 1475
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink
- Culture
- Franco-Flemish
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
- Object ID
- 52ec1cfa-1cc8-40ed-8a68-d07755a6d308
In the part of hell reserved for thieves, Tondal must lead a cow over a narrow bridge in penance for once having stolen a cow from a friend. At the midpoint of the bridge, which is only as wide as his hand and studded with sharp iron nails, Tondal encounters another sinner carrying sheaves of wheat. Miraculously, Tondal and the man pass each other and make it across, completing their penance without falling into the pit of demons below.
The authoritative record is held by Getty Museum. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
Get printable QR codesHide QR codes
Open QR codes for this object page and the museum record. They stay collapsed until needed.
Related across collections
Semantically similar works from Getty Museum and other institutions.