Coronation of the Virgin and other scenes thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Coronation of the Virgin and other scenes

Leaf of a Diptych
ca. 1300-1400 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

The dense grain of a hardwood allows subtle carving and a high polish. In a relief the image stands out against a background that has been cut away. The depths and angles at which the wood is carved determine the play of light and shadow in the relief. The scene with the Coronation of the Virgin includes St John the Baptist. Above (left, then clockwise) are the Ascension, Pentecost and scenes of the Legends of St Benedict and St Maur. The form of the object is close to that of contemporary ivory carvings.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Leaf of a diptych
TitleCoronation of the Virgin and other scenes (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Boxwood
Boxwood
Brief description
Leave of a Diptych, Coronation of the Virgin and other Scenes, carved boxwood, England, ca. 1300-1400
Physical description
The scenes show: the Ascension; Pentecoast; the Coronation of the Virgin with St John the Baptist; scenes from the legends of SS Benedict and Maur.
Dimensions
  • Length: 15.87cm
  • Width: 9.52cm
Object history
Bought in 1869.
Subjects depicted
Virgin Mary
St John the Baptist
Coronation of the Virgin
The Ascension
Summary
The dense grain of a hardwood allows subtle carving and a high polish. In a relief the image stands out against a background that has been cut away. The depths and angles at which the wood is carved determine the play of light and shadow in the relief. The scene with the Coronation of the Virgin includes St John the Baptist. Above (left, then clockwise) are the Ascension, Pentecost and scenes of the Legends of St Benedict and St Maur. The form of the object is close to that of contemporary ivory carvings.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 69
  • Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulleting. XXVI, 1967-1968, pp. 84-85
  • Cf. Transformations of the court style : Gothic art in Europe, 1270 to 1330. Providence, R. I.: The Department, 1977, cat. no. 11. Catalogue of the exhibition held Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, February 1977
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
918-1869

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Record createdApril 21, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111415/coronation-of-the-virgin-and-leaf-of-a-unknown/
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