Christ as Man of Sorrows flanked by Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist (centre panel)
- Artist: Fra Angelico
- Date: 1420 - 1429
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Christ as Man of Sorrows flanked by Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist (centre panel)” by Fra Angelico. Painted between 1420 and 1429 in tempera on panel, it was part of a triptych predella that once sat beneath the main altar of a Florentine Dominican convent devoted to Saint Peter Martyr. The scene focuses on the dead Christ, set against a stark black background, his wounds highlighted by the lance that pierced his side and a wine‑soaked sponge that quenched his thirst. Flanking him are Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist, both turned toward the suffering figure, their expressions conveying sorrow and devotion. The predella’s other two panels feature female saints—likely Catherine of Siena and Cecilia on the left, and Catherine of Alexandria with Agnes on the right—suggesting that relics of these saints were housed in the convent. The composition reflects the Dominican emphasis on meditation on Christ’s Passion, while the choice of saints underscores the convent’s spiritual heritage and the intercession they believed in. Fra Angelico’s use of delicate tempera and his mastery of gentle light bring a quiet, contemplative mood to the work, inviting viewers to reflect on the depth of Christ’s suffering and the communal faith of the convent’s sisters.
See it in person
Christ as Man of Sorrows flanked by Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist (centre panel) hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
