A Contest between the Shepherds Alcesto and Acaten 1405 - 1415

"A Contest between the Shepherds Alcesto and Acaten," a twelve-sided panel painting by the Master of 1416 (c. 1400-1429), depicts a scene from a popular medieval romance. The work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a group of figures in a mountainous landscape, likely representing a pastoral setting. The figures are richly dressed in brightly colored clothing and engage in a dialogue, referencing the story's themes of courtly love and rivalry. The painting's decorative style, characterized by its use of gold leaf and intricate details, showcases the artistic trends prevalent in early fifteenth-century Northern Europe.