The Raising of the Cross [center, left, and right panels]

Art Historical Context

Behold the dramatic centerpiece of *The Raising of the Cross*, triptych attributed to enigmatic Master of the Star Triptych, created around 1480–1490. This oil-on-panel masterpiece from Late Gothic period in the Netherlands captures the biblical moment when Christ is hoisted onto the cross, flanked by left and right panels likely depicting attendant saints or mourners. Measuring about 66 x 48 cm in the center, the work exemplifies the portable altarpiece format popular for private devotion or church settings. Oil on panel, a hallmark of Northern Renaissance innovation, allowed the anonymous master—named after a signed work he painted—to achieve luminous glazes, intricate details in drapery and expressions, and a sense of profound emotional intensity. The triptych's hinged wings (each roughly 65 x 24 cm framed) could fold shut, protecting the sacred image while inviting contemplation of Christ's sacrifice amid the era's religious fervor. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, thanks to the Patrons' Permanent Fund, this piece reflects the cultural devotion of 15th-century Flanders, where art bridged the divine and human realms. Visitors are drawn into its timeless narrative of suffering and redemption, a poignant reminder of faith's visual power.