Full artwork / 1800 x 1279 px

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The Wilton Diptych

Richard II kneels before the Virgin and Child across two jewel-like panels filled with angels, heraldry and sacred kingship.

Living Canvas / Visual evidence

Meaning, Symbols, Analysis and Details

The hinged object joins an earthly royal group to a densely blue heavenly court. Five details follow gaze, gesture, heraldry and material splendor across the two panels.

Date: c. 1395-1399
Museum: The National Gallery, London
Palette

Evidence 01 / Meaning1.55x

01 / 06

Research note: The National Gallery catalogue identifies Richard II and the three patron saints. Museum source

Research note: The National Gallery catalogue discusses the swallow-tailed pennon and orb in detail. Museum source

What remains debated

Evidence has limits.

The artist's nationality, the precise commission and some heraldic meanings remain debated. The safest reading distinguishes what is visibly represented from claims about where and how the portable diptych was originally used.

Questions about this painting

Meaning without a thin page

What should I look at first in The Wilton Diptych?

Begin with richard ii kneels at the threshold, then compare it with three saints present the king and the virgin and child answer the royal gaze. The sequence moves from visible structure toward interpretation.

What does The Wilton Diptych mean?

Verify / 02

Verify the object record

Titles, dates, media, dimensions, institutional identifiers and retained sources remain separate from interpretation so each fact can be checked independently.

Record completeness

Research ready

100%

Primary title: The Wilton Diptych
Original title: Richard II presented to the Virgin and Child by his Patron Saints ('The Wilton Diptych')
Creator: Unknown artist
Date: c. 1395-1399
Movement: International Gothic
Object type: Diptych
Medium: Egg tempera on oak
Dimensions: Each panel 53 × 37 cm including frame; painted surface 46 × 29 cm
Holding institution: The National Gallery, London
Accession number: NG4451
Attribution: English or French (?)
Digital image: 1800 × 1279 px

Compare / 03

Compare evidence, not just images

Set this work beside a related painting to test differences in date, artist, movement, subject, palette and visible evidence.

Open side-by-side comparison

iconographic

The Madonna of the Pinks

Raphael · c. 1506-1507

Sacred intimacy and patron access

Compare a public devotional-political encounter with a close domestic vision of Mary and Christ.

Compare this pair

same subject

The Adoration of the Holy Trinity

Albrecht Dürer · 1511

Hierarchy in devotional space

Both organize sacred communities through scale, color and zones of access.

Compare this pair

Artist authority pathway

Continue with Unknown artist

Open the artist profile

This is currently the artist's primary work in the atlas. Continue through the artist profile and movement page as the collection expands.

Learn / 04

Follow this painting through the knowledge graph

Continue through artist, movement, subject, emotion, color and visual-analysis methods. Each destination adds independent context instead of repeating the same interpretation.

Analyze this painting Elements of art Composition guide Religious Art religious art Richard II Virgin and Child angels medieval art

Historical significance

Why this work still matters

The diptych is a rare masterpiece of medieval English court art and an exceptionally rich document of sacred monarchy.

Detail coordinates

Look more closely

01Follow Richard II's gaze across the hinge.
02Count the white hart badges worn by the angels.
03Compare earthly landscape with the gold and blue heavenly space.

Reuse / 05

Turn the record into a usable result

Carry the verified object identity into a citation, classroom worksheet or source trail. Reuse means research, teaching and creative reference, not merely downloading an image.