Fragment of a Marble Tomb Relief with Christ Giving the Law in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, August 2007

Fragment of a Marble Tomb Relief with Christ Giving the Law
Byzantine, from Rome, Italy
Carved late 300s, in Rome

Accession # 48.76.2

The image of Christ's Giving of the Law, called the Traditio Legis, recognizes Peter's role as the successor to Christ. Thought to have been developed in Rome, the scene shows Christ offering an unfurled scroll containing the law to Saint Peter. To the left Saint Paul stands looking up to Christ; four other apostles survive to the sides. The relief is a Christian interpretation of the Roman sarcophagus type displaying figures set within a series of niches framed by columns; the columns here are decorated with putti in vine scrolls.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.