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Not on display

Christ Triumphant

Panel
12th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (sculptor)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This is an ivory panel made probably in Northern Italy or South Germany, probably in the twelfth century. This panel depicts Christ Triumphant standing within a mandorla, holding in his right hand the Banner of the Resurrection and in his left, covered by his mantle, a book. It also shows all four beasts of Psalm 90, illustrated below the feet of Christ, the dragon, lion, asp and basilisk. This plaque is relatively thin and must have been made for a book cover and then torn from its setting. The particular image of the triumphant Christ, with the lion, dragon, asp and basilisk, has been shown by Philippe Verdier to derive from Late Roman imperial prototypes and have enjoyed a great popularity in the Carolingian and Romanesque periods.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Plaques & Plaquettes
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Panel
TitleChrist Triumphant (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved elephant ivory
Ivory
Carving
Brief description
Panel, ivory, depicting Christ triumphant, Northern Italy or South Germany, probably twelfth century
Physical description
Carved ivory panel or devotional tablet depicting Christ standing within a mandorla and striding forward triumphantly, holding in his right hand the Banner of the Resurrection and in his left, covered by his mantle, a book. The drapery of his mantle billows out from behind his waist and from his left wrist. Beneath his feet are the lion, the dragon, the asp, and baselisk. The panel is surrounded by undulating foliage.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.2cm
  • Maximum width: 6.9cm
Object history
In the possession of John Webb, London, by 1862 (London 1862, cat. no. 53); purchased from Webb in 1867, for £7.
Subjects depicted
Banners
Dragon
Cockatrice
Lion
Nimbus
Mandorla
Asp
Jesus Christ
Summary
This is an ivory panel made probably in Northern Italy or South Germany, probably in the twelfth century. This panel depicts Christ Triumphant standing within a mandorla, holding in his right hand the Banner of the Resurrection and in his left, covered by his mantle, a book. It also shows all four beasts of Psalm 90, illustrated below the feet of Christ, the dragon, lion, asp and basilisk. This plaque is relatively thin and must have been made for a book cover and then torn from its setting. The particular image of the triumphant Christ, with the lion, dragon, asp and basilisk, has been shown by Philippe Verdier to derive from Late Roman imperial prototypes and have enjoyed a great popularity in the Carolingian and Romanesque periods.
Associated object
REPRO.1873-123 (Reproduction)
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 10
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 115
  • Verdier, Philippe. Dominus Potens in Praelio. Wallraf-Richartz-Jahrbuch. 43, 1982, p. 90, a. 47, fig. 9
  • Maskell, W., A Description of the Ivories Ancient and Medieval in the South Kensington Museum, London, 1872 p. 104
  • Westwood, J O. A descriptive catalogue of the Fictile Ivories in the South Kensington Museum. With an Account of the Continental Collections of Classical and Mediaeval Ivories. London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1876 p. 165
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014 part II, pp. 874-875
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014, part II, pp. 874-875, cat. no. 289
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
260-1867

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Record createdOctober 15, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106437/christ-triumphant-panel-unknown/
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