The Presentation of Christ in the Temple 1492 - 1498

"The Presentation of Christ in the Temple" is a bronze plaquette by the Italian Renaissance artist Moderno (Galeazzo Mondella), created between 1492 and 1498. The small, rectangular piece depicts the biblical scene of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple, where Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to be presented to the high priest Simeon. This was a common subject in Renaissance art, highlighting the young Christ's divinity and foreshadowing his future role as the Messiah. The plaquette is a fine example of Moderno's masterful use of relief sculpture, with intricate details in the figures, architecture, and even the floor tiles. This piece is currently located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.