The Barnabas Altarpiece

Queen of Heaven nursing her Child

This painting is worth sharing but is it art? Art is usually an expression of the time it was created—it is history. In this case, art is history. The Barnabas Altarpiece was created during the 13^th Century for the Roman Catholic Church. Originally, an altarpiece was placed in front of the altar with the priest standing behind it facing the congregation but during this time period the altarpiece was placed behind the altar with the priest facing the altarpiece. With this particular altarpiece, makes one wonder the mindset of the priest.

The Barnabas Altarpiece is considered a triptych because it contains three panels one with St Peter on one side and St. Paul on the other side with Mary nursing baby Jesus at center. The panel is set with buildings crowded up behind the frame suggesting the union of the secular world with the divine. Being one of the earliest surviving English paintings on wood panel, it defines medieval contemporary style symbolizing an abstraction of Romanesque art and the naturalism of the mature Gothic. Although the showing of the “Queen of Heaven” nursing her child is unusual for that time period, the Roman Catholic, Bishop Barnabas ordered it in order to display and introduce more tenderness and humanity within the church.

The Barnabas Altarpiece. Painted about 1250-60.

Looking in hindsight from the 21^st Century, Jesus looks too old to be nursing. Our Lord is pictured holding his mother’s breast so gracefully—look at His right hand showing so much tenderness. Just to show you He’s not a baby, He’s holding the word of God in his left hand. This magnificent functional and conceptualized art altarpiece indeed expresses tenderness and humanity but for who; the priests, the congregation, the secular world or all of the above?

Clarke, (1981). Kimbell Art Museum: Handbook of the Collection. Texas: Kimbell Art Foundation.