The Crucifixion with a Pelican

The Crucifixion with a Pelican by the Master of the Dominican Effigies, painted around 1339, combines the central Christian image with the rich symbolism of the pelican, which in medieval bestiaries was believed to feed its young with blood from its own breast — a widely recognized symbol of Christ's sacrificial love. The anonymous master takes his name from a series of Dominican portraits, indicating close ties to the Order of Preachers and their theological emphasis on Christ's redemptive suffering.

Tempera and gold on panel with the Crucifixion rendered in a devotional format emphasizing symbolic content alongside narrative. The pelican motif crowns the cross, while the figures below display the refined draftsmanship and expressive gestures characteristic of this anonymous Florentine-influenced master.