Christ and the Woman Taken in Adultery
c. 1535 or later
Medium
gilt bronze (later perforated with a keyhole)
Dimensions
6 × 7.5 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund
Accession Number
1968.27
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
In the Gospel of John, a group of scribes and Pharisees, following the law of the Ten Commandments, intends to stone a woman who has committed adultery. The group first asks Christ's opinion of their actions, hoping to accuse him of heresy, but Christ ignores them by writing on the ground. When they persist Christ tells them, "He who is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." First and foremost a gem and rock crystal engraver, Belli's plaquettes are often casts made from desig...