Triptych of the Passion of Christ

Commissioned by King Manuel I and executed in Antwerp by Quentin Metsys between 1514 and 1517 for the Monastery of Santa Clara, this triptych still preserves its lateral panels and a fragment of the central panel. It is an oil painting on oak panel.When the triptych was closed, the viewer would be confronted with the Annunciation in grisaille, in tones of grey, pink and white.The interior portrayed the Crucifixion of Christ in the centre, whilst the humiliation inflicted on him by the Romans (The Flagellation) and by the Jews (Ecce Homo) occupied the lateral panels.The fragment of the central panel was made into an ex voto at the end of the 17th century by the Prioress Maria to thank the Virgin Mary from saving her from death, as we can read on the reverse.