A Contest between the Shepherds Alcesto and Acaten

Art Historical Context

In the early 15th century, enigmatic Master of 1416named for a dated work he signed—created this captivating *A Contest between the Shepherd Alcesto and Acaten* around 1410. Painted in tempera on wood, a labor-intensive medium using pigments mixed with egg yolk for luminous, jewel-like colors and fine details, the panel's unusual twelve-sided shape (21 1/8 x 22 1/8 in.) suggests it may have adorned a specialized object like a piece of furniture or a decorative wellhead, blending artistry with everyday luxury. The scene depicts a lively pastoral rivalry between shepherds Alcesto and Acaten, surrounded by men and women in a timeless rural idyll. Such themes drew from medieval literature and poetry, evoking courtly love and the idealized countryside amid Italy's Sienese Gothic tradition. The Master's style reflects the International Gothic movement, with graceful figures, rich patterns in clothing, and a flattened, decorative space that bridges late medieval elegance and emerging Renaissance naturalism. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1926, this rare polygonal panel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a window into anonymous workshop practices of the era, highlighting how everyday myths inspired exquisite craftsmanship for elite patrons.