Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (right wing)
- Artist: Germany (West) late 14th century
- Date: (circa) 1374
- Medium: oil on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (right wing) painted in West Germany in the late 14th century. The main panel is a dramatic, compact scene of the Crucifixion, but look above it—there are four tiny vignettes that give us a full narrative arc: Christ washing the Apostles’ feet, the Agony in the Garden, the Resurrection, and the quiet aftermath. Each square feels like a miniature illuminated manuscript, a style the artists favored for its intimacy and detail.
Flipping the wings opens up even more stories: other biblical episodes that tie into the central theme, plus the poignant Death of the Virgin. That last panel is a quiet, almost melancholy reminder of mortality and devotion.
What really draws attention is the trio of Franciscan saints. Saint Francis himself is depicted preaching to a flock of birds, a gesture that signals the artwork’s connection to the Franciscan order. The presence of the other two saints reinforces that link, suggesting the triptych may have been commissioned for a Franciscan house or a lay devotee with strong ties to the order.
The piece is executed in oil on panel, a medium that allows for rich color and fine detail, and it dates to around 1374. It stands as one of the few surviving 14th‑century triptychs from Northern Europe, giving us a rare window into the devotional practices and artistic conventions of that era.
See it in person
Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (right wing) 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.
More from The Courtauld Gallery
Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych)
Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (left wing)
Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (panel previously attached to back of left wing, bottom) - audience of birds
Crucifixion triptych (formerly known as the Estouteville Triptych) (panel previously attached to back of left wing, top) - Saints Clare and Paul