Panel
1475-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This panel shows an eagle with a banderole (or ribbon-like scroll) and an inkhorn in its beak, a traditional symbol of St John. In the Bible John is one of the Four Evangelists, the authors of the gospels. The convention of representing the four as winged creatures is based on the book of Ezekiel, chapter 1, verses 5-14, where Ezekiel tells of a vision of the four beasts. Medieval commentators argued that the eagle represents John because it is the bird that flies closest to heaven. John's gospel was thought to adopt a "higher" level of theology than the other three gospels.
This expressive panel was carved from a single piece of oak, and was probably one of a set of four (another of which survives in the Museum, 675-1895). It was formerly in the collection of Emile Peyre (1824-1904), a notable Parisian collector of French Medieval and Renaissance woodwork. The V&A bought many pieces from him in 1895.
This expressive panel was carved from a single piece of oak, and was probably one of a set of four (another of which survives in the Museum, 675-1895). It was formerly in the collection of Emile Peyre (1824-1904), a notable Parisian collector of French Medieval and Renaissance woodwork. The V&A bought many pieces from him in 1895.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved oak |
| Brief description | Panel of carved oak, of quatrefoil shape, carved with the eagle of St John |
| Physical description | Quatrefoil panel of oak, with cavetto moulded edges, carved in the solid in high relief with an eagle holding in its beak and under one foot a banderole (secured with 2 pegs), representing St John the Evangelist. With three fixing holes and a central round hole in the centre of the back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | By 67 Peyre (Pasted label on reverse) |
| Object history | Bought with 675-1895 for £15 from Emile Peyre, of Paris This panel was formerly in the collection of Emile Peyre (1824-1904), a notable Parisian collector of French medieval and renaissance artefacts. In 1895 the South Kensington Museum (renamed the V&A in 1900), bought over 300 pieces of furniture and woodwork from him, (as well as sculpture and metalwork), at a cost of £11,878. 16s. 9d. |
| Summary | This panel shows an eagle with a banderole (or ribbon-like scroll) and an inkhorn in its beak, a traditional symbol of St John. In the Bible John is one of the Four Evangelists, the authors of the gospels. The convention of representing the four as winged creatures is based on the book of Ezekiel, chapter 1, verses 5-14, where Ezekiel tells of a vision of the four beasts. Medieval commentators argued that the eagle represents John because it is the bird that flies closest to heaven. John's gospel was thought to adopt a "higher" level of theology than the other three gospels. This expressive panel was carved from a single piece of oak, and was probably one of a set of four (another of which survives in the Museum, 675-1895). It was formerly in the collection of Emile Peyre (1824-1904), a notable Parisian collector of French Medieval and Renaissance woodwork. The V&A bought many pieces from him in 1895. |
| Associated object | 675-1895 (Set) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 676-1895 |
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| Record created | May 11, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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