Altar Frontal
Cloth of gold and silver on velvet. Embroidered in gold, silver and silk threads; split, brick and satin stitches with couched and applied work.
SPANISH (probably Toledo); about 1530
T.141-1969
The scenes show the baptism of Christ, and the Virgin and child with the young St John the Baptist. In the centre of the upper band: Christ carrying the Cross, and the eagle symbol of St John the Evangelist on either side. On the extreme left is shown the martydom of St John the Evangelist, and on the extreme right, St John the evangelist with angels. The side borders show St Francis receiving his wounds, and St Catherine of Siena. The scenes from the life of St John the Evangelist represented on the frontal reflect the fact that it was made for the churdch of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo, which was dedicated to this saint. []