The Assumption of the Virgin thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

The Assumption of the Virgin

Panel
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an ivory group made in the 19th century France, representing the Assumption of the Virgin.
When the relief was acquired it was thought to be Italian of the 17th century, which is a mystifying ascription. Later in 1924 it was ascribed as being of the mid-fourteenth century by Koechlin but he was disturbed by its stylistic and compositional infelicities. The anatomically impossible angle of the kneeling angel's head, is indeed maladroit; and the simpering faces, with pointed noses and chins, seem to display a mannered exaggeration - almost a parodic imitation of the 'Gothic smile' manifested in large scale at Bourges and elsewhere.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Assumption of the Virgin (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved elephant ivory
Brief description
Group, ivory in high relief, the Assumption of the Virgin, France, probably nineteenth century
Physical description
Ivory group in high relief representing the Assumption of the Virgin. The Virgin with clasped hands is upheld by angels, four on either side. Pierced at the bottom, below the Virgin, and was set on a separate background. The back is cross-hatched througout to support adhesion. Remains of red paint.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.5cm
  • At base width: 7.2cm
Object history
Bought in 1866 from Tito Gagliardi, Florence, in 1866 (£14).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an ivory group made in the 19th century France, representing the Assumption of the Virgin.
When the relief was acquired it was thought to be Italian of the 17th century, which is a mystifying ascription. Later in 1924 it was ascribed as being of the mid-fourteenth century by Koechlin but he was disturbed by its stylistic and compositional infelicities. The anatomically impossible angle of the kneeling angel's head, is indeed maladroit; and the simpering faces, with pointed noses and chins, seem to display a mannered exaggeration - almost a parodic imitation of the 'Gothic smile' manifested in large scale at Bourges and elsewhere.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1866. 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. 16
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929, Part II, p. 32
  • Koechlin, R., Les Ivoires gothiques français, 3 vols, Paris, 1924 (reprinted Paris 1968) Vol I, p. 261; Vol II, cat. no. 727; Vol III, pl. CXX
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014 part 1, p. 133
  • Williamson, Paul and Davies, Glyn, Medieval Ivory Carvings, 1200-1550, (in 2 parts), V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2014, part 1, p. 133, cat. no. 41
Collection
Accession number
68-1866

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMay 13, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest