Getty Museum

The New Song

Date

about 1255–1260

Medium

Tempera colors, gold leaf, colored washes, pen and ink

Culture

English

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

>And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song, but those 144,000 that are taken from the earth. (Apocalypse 14:3) The artist placed the four living creatures inside a square, with the enthroned Christ in a mandorla in the center. The lamb stands below, holding a banner with a cross on it, the sign of Christ's triumph over death and evil. Wavy clouds surround the square, from which emerge eight singers with open books. The four groups at the left and the right are the elders. To the far left, John holds his hand up to his ear to catch the sound of the beautiful music as it wafts to him through a small door that he holds open in the frame.

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