The Four Evangelists
Plaque
mid 11th century (carving)
mid 11th century (carving)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ivory plaque, made in Germany (Lower Rhine, Cologne) in the mid 11th century depcits the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – who held a special position among the saints as the authors of the Gospels. They often appeared on the covers of Gospel books. These small plaques would have been placed either in the corners or around a central plaque to form a cross.
The four plaques show the long-standing influence of the Carolingian style up until the middle of the eleventh century. The evangelist figures are clearly related in style to those found in manuscripts produced in Cologne and its environs in the mid-eleventh century.
The four plaques show the long-standing influence of the Carolingian style up until the middle of the eleventh century. The evangelist figures are clearly related in style to those found in manuscripts produced in Cologne and its environs in the mid-eleventh century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Four Evangelists (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory, probably walrus ivory (although secondary dentine not visible) |
| Brief description | Plaques, ivory, depicting the four Evangelists, Lower Rhenish (Cologne), mid 11th century |
| Physical description | The Four Evangelists. Each is seated before a lectern accompanied by his particular symbol. St Matthew is sharpening his quill; St Mark writing; St Luke (shown frontally rather than in profile) listening to his symbol, with his quill ready in his right hand; St John writing, turns his head back towards his symbol, the eagle. Only Matthew and John have haloes. Because of their fragility the plaques are now mounted on a perspex plate. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Formerly in the Webb collection. Acquired by the museum in 1867, for £10. Historical significance: The four plaques show the long-standing influence of the Carolingian style up until the middle of the eleventh century. The evangelist figures are clearly related in style to those found in manuscripts produced in Cologne and its environs in the mid-eleventh century, such as the similarly sized examples in the Initium page of St. Gereon Gospels in Stuttgart of about 1050-67. |
| Historical context | Similar reliefs were frequently used to decorate covers of manuscripts of the Gospels or Evangelistary, either placed in the corners or, in the form of a cross, around a larger central relief. |
| Production | Lower Rhenish |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ivory plaque, made in Germany (Lower Rhine, Cologne) in the mid 11th century depcits the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – who held a special position among the saints as the authors of the Gospels. They often appeared on the covers of Gospel books. These small plaques would have been placed either in the corners or around a central plaque to form a cross. The four plaques show the long-standing influence of the Carolingian style up until the middle of the eleventh century. The evangelist figures are clearly related in style to those found in manuscripts produced in Cologne and its environs in the mid-eleventh century. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 248-1867 |
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| Record created | December 12, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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