Picture
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The unnamed apostle turns his eyes upwards in awe towards the heavens. This gesture was a popular device in Baroque art to increase the intensity and emotion of the depiction.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Micromosaic with gilt wood frame |
| Brief description | Micromosaic depicting an apostle, Russia, 18th century |
| Physical description | Oval micromosaic, in an oval gilt frame, depicting the head of an Apostle with a grey beard and upturned eyes. He wears a green robe and his right arm is crossed towards the viewer's right. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | An Apostle
About 1700
The fiture of this apostle turns his eyes upwards in awe towards the heavens. This gesture was a popular device in Baroque art to increase the intensity and emotion of the depiction.
Italy; probably Vatican Mosaic Workshop, Rome
Glass mosaic with gilded wood frame
Museum no. Loan: Gilbert. 222:1,2-2008(2009) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Christopher Gibbs Ltd., London, 1972. Historical significance: The figure probably represents one of the twelve apostles. The original twelve were Simon, Peter, Andrew, James and John (sons of Zebedee), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew (or Levi), Thomas, James (son of Alpheus), Jude (or Thaddeus), Simon and Matthias (who took the place of Judas). |
| Historical context | The large rectilinear tesserae in this mosaic are characteristic of the altar mosaics created for St Peter's Basilica, Rome, in the early 18th century. Executed in the Baroque style, with the characteristic devise of portraying the figure with his eyes turned upwards in awe. During this period, the work of the Vatican Mosaic Workshop was restricted to Christian themes copied from paintings or cartoons or portraits of papal leaders. They were made for display in St Peter's Basilica or other Roman churches. |
| Summary | The unnamed apostle turns his eyes upwards in awe towards the heavens. This gesture was a popular device in Baroque art to increase the intensity and emotion of the depiction. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.222:1, 2-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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