Why it matters
Open, the three half-length panels show John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary with Jesus and Saint John the Evangelist, and Mary Magdalene; closed, the wings show a skull and cross. It is van der Weyden's only surviving devotional work made for private display.
Did you know?
- It dates from around 1452.
- It was probably commissioned by Catherine de Brabant after her husband's death.
- It is painted in oil on oak.
Based on the Wikipedia article Braque Triptych (CC BY-SA 4.0).
