The Pearl of Brabant St. Christopher by Dieric Bouts was created in 1465 and is in Alte Pinakothek München. The size of the work is 62,6 x 28,1 cm and is made of oil on wood.
About the Work
The name “Pearl of Brabant” evokes the exquisite overall effect and luminous atmosphere of this small altarpiece. The central panel features numerous symbols and legendary allusions relating to the virginity of Mary. On the left wing, depicted in bright daylight, is John the Baptist pointing toward the Lamb of God (John 1:29); on the right, set against a sunset, is the giant Saint Christopher, who—in the child upon his shoulders—discovered the “mightiest being in the world” (as recounted in the Legenda aurea). The attribution to Dieric Bouts the Elder remains a subject of debate.