Altar-facing with Christ, the Virgin and Saints Magdalene, Peter, Pantaleon, Paul, and Catherine

Originally placed on the high altar of the parish church in Courmayeur, the frontal forms part of a group of wooden furnishings recorded as being in Valle d’Aosta churches in the Middle Ages. These works were made from a number of panels that were assembled, carved, covered in a thin layer of plaster-based primer, and then painted. Particularly precious effects were obtained by applying extremely thin leaves of gold and silver. In 1897 the parish priest tried to sell the altar-facing illegally to a collector, but in view of the exceptional importance and quality of the work, it was confiscated and, three years later, purchased by the Museum, thanks to the combined efforts of Alfredo d’Andrade and the authorities.