Christ and Nine Apostles thumbnail 1
Christ and Nine Apostles thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 8, The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery

Christ and Nine Apostles

Capital
ca. 1175-1200 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This 12th-century capital is square, surmounted by a projection on the right-hand side. The figures of Christ and nine Apostles stand under round arches separated by twisted columns.
It is probable that the remaining three Apostles were carved on a separate piece, attached on the left-hand side, and now missing.

The style and composition of the capital point to an origin in central North Spain. A frieze in the church of Agüero (Aragon) shows figures with similar draperies and facial types.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChrist and Nine Apostles (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved pink limestone
Brief description
Capital, Christ and nine Apostles, carved stone, Spain, ca. 1175-1200
Physical description
The capital is square topped with a projection on the right-hand side. The figures of Christ and nine Apostles stand under round arches and are separated by twisted columns : Christ in the centre. Above is a moulding interrupted by arched projections, inscribed with the names of Christ and the Apostles in incised uncials (a form of writing found in Greek and Latin manuscripts of the 3rd to 9th centuries using majascule letters of rounded form). It is probable that the remaining three Apostles were carved on a separate piece, attached to the left-hand side. The capital is in reasonably good condition : there are minor breaks , three of the columns on the right side are broken, and the entire surface is covered with a layer of dirt.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.8cm
  • Width: 61.5cm
  • Depth: 49cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
'IVDA' : BARTOLOM : TOMAS : PETRVS : IEHS : PAVL' : ANDREAS : IACOB' : FILIP' : MATE' : SIMON'
Translation
Judas : Bartholomew : Thomas : Peter Jesus : Paul : Andrew : Jacob : Phillip : Matthew : Simon
Gallery label
CAPITAL WITH CHRIST AND THE NINE APOSTLES Limestone NORTHERN SPANISH: about 1175-1200 Given by J.H. Fitzhenry 899-1906
Credit line
Given by J.H. Fitzhenry Esq.
Object history
The style and composition of the capital point to an origin in central North Spain. A frieze in the church of Agüero (Aragon) shows figures with similar draperies and facial types. A capital of the same type currently resides in the church of Santa Maria at Tirgo, with just five standing figures under arches.
Given by Mr J. H. Fitzhenry.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This 12th-century capital is square, surmounted by a projection on the right-hand side. The figures of Christ and nine Apostles stand under round arches separated by twisted columns.
It is probable that the remaining three Apostles were carved on a separate piece, attached on the left-hand side, and now missing.

The style and composition of the capital point to an origin in central North Spain. A frieze in the church of Agüero (Aragon) shows figures with similar draperies and facial types.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1906, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 150
  • Hourihane, Colum, ed. Objects, Images and the Word: Art in the Service of the Liturgy. Princeton, 2003, p. 118, fig. 8
  • Williamson, Paul. Catalogue of Romanesque Sculpture. Victoria & Albert Museum, London 1983, p. 105, cat.no. 50
Collection
Accession number
899-1906

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Record createdNovember 30, 2005
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