The Visitation Panel from Saint John Retable

By Domingo Ram, 15th century
JPG • 2495 × 1942 PX • 2.4 MB
Curatorial Notes

Created in Aragon, Spain, during the 15th century, this painting depicts the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Saint Elizabeth, as narrated in the Gospel of Saint Luke (Lk 1:39–56). After receiving the announcement that she would become the Mother of the Savior, Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with Saint John the Baptist. Upon hearing Mary's greeting, the child leaps for joy in his mother's womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, recognizes Mary as the Mother of the Lord. The scene is set in a residence featuring late medieval architecture, and the painter included additional figures in the encounter, including an elderly man holding a staff, possibly Saint Zechariah, Elizabeth's husband. Originally, the painting formed part of a large altarpiece dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, occupying the central section above the image of the saint enthroned and below the Crucifixion. These three panels, together with other scenes from the Baptist's life, are now preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work displays characteristics of Aragonese Gothic painting, including richly decorated garments, golden halos, and expressive gestures.

Artwork Identification

Title The Visitation Panel from Saint John Retable
Title (PT) A Visitação (painel do Retábulo de São João)
Title (ES) La Visitación (panel del Retablo de San Juan)
Artist Domingo Ram
Artist Bio Domingo Ram was a Spanish Late Gothic painter documented in Aragon between 1462 and 1507. He worked in cities such as Zaragoza, Calatayud, Maluenda, and Alcañiz, specializing in religious altarpieces. In 1462, he trained under the painter Juan Rius, with whom he later collaborated on the altarpiece of Saints Justa and Rufina, commissioned in 1475 for a church in Maluenda. He also undertook important commissions for the church of Santa María in Maluenda and the collegiate church of Alcañiz. His paintings are characterized by narrative compositions, vivid colors, and rich gold ornamentation. His dates of birth and death remain unknown.
Date 15th century
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta