The Wilton Diptych is a portable altarpiece painted in egg tempera on two wooden panels by an unknown artist, dated between circa 1395 and circa 1399. The work was created in England at the end of the 14th century, and is widely believed to have been commissioned for King Richard II, although the artist’s identity remains unrecorded. It is one of the most significant surviving examples of late medieval religious painting in England, notable for its courtly style and refined technique. The diptych consists of two panels joined by hinges.

On the left panel, a kneeling king—identified as Richard II by his distinctive features and attire—is presented by three saints: John the Baptist, Edward the Confessor, and Edmund the Martyr. The right panel depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, surrounded by a host of eleven angels dressed in blue robes. The composition is characterized by its rich use of gold leaf, luminous blue pigments, and intricate detailing in the garments and halos, creating a sense of opulence and reverence.

The white hart emblem, associated with Richard II, appears prominently on both the king’s livery and the angels’ badges, signifying royal patronage. The Wilton Diptych has been preserved in remarkably good condition and is now held in the collection of the National Gallery, London. Its provenance traces back to Wilton House, the seat of the Earls of Pembroke, from which it takes its modern name. The diptych has been the subject of extensive scholarly study and is regarded as a masterpiece of International Gothic art.

It remains an important object for understanding the religious and political symbolism of late 14th-century England.