Rare Antique French Alter Painting, Lambs, Backside is Dark Jesus, Alter Stand c.1840s
A splendid and rare alter painting, lambs (representing the lamb of God), oil painting on board. And if you walk around the alter to the backside, you see the other painting, a dark Jesus against a halo of gold and red, a bit creepy. I remember seeing something similar in the British Museum, a similar flat and rather creepy Christ, only visible behind the alter. Another was on display in one of the museums in Washington D.C., from memory. I'm not Catholic, and I don't quite know how to explain this painting, or why it is on a stand slowing it to be raised or lowered. Perhaps someone out there can enlighten me via email? Thanks in advance. I do know this one came out of France, and described to me (and also meets my own evaluation) as c.1840s, perhaps earlier. As France moves further into secular norms, the old chapels and cathedrals are selling off their own items like this to stay afloat. The painting of the lambs has high enough appeal to have captured my heart. While there is no si