Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index



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  • Title: A Goldsmith in his Shop, possibly St. Eligius
  • Creator: Petrus Christus, painter
  • Description: A goldsmith (possibly St. Eligius, patron of goldsmiths) weighs a wedding ring for a wealthy couple. In the background are a number of the goldsmith's wares including brooches, rings and liturgical vessels. On the table are two references to the impending nuptials: the woman's sash, and the reflection in the mirror. The sash often signified marriage and eventual maternity, and one of the men reflected in the mirror holds a falcon--a symbol of sexual conquest.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Public Domain
  • Subject (See Also): Courtly Love Falcons Goldsmiths Marriage Metalwork Weights and Measures
  • Geographic Area: Low Countries
  • Century: 15
  • Date: 1449
  • Related Work:
  • Current Location: New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Original Location:
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Oil; Canvas
  • Donor: Layman; Goldsmith's Guild of Bruges
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 98/85.2/
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: