Column Base thumbnail 1
Column Base thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 8, The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery

Column Base

ca. 1200 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Apulia (made)

The lion formed the support for a column and was carved integrally with the base. The weathering of the lions, which is severe around the head, suggests that it was used externally, to flank a door or window. The relatively small proportions of the lion means it is comparable to examples besides the windows in the apses of the cathedral of Bitonto and Troia and on the façade of the Cathedral at Termoli.


Object details

Category
Architectural Fittings
Object type
Column base
Materials and techniques
Marble
Marble
Carving
Brief description
Marble column base in the shape of a couchant lion, South Italian, possibly Apulia, ca.1200
Physical description
The lion is carved in one with its rectangular base and the base of the column resting on its back. The head of the lion is turned to its left, and the end of the tail rests on its left flank.
Dimensions
  • Height: 52.7cm
  • Width: 59.7cm
  • Diameter: 32.4cm
  • Weight: 200kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Object history
This marble lion, one of a pair, is heavily weathered, and so would appear to have been originally displayed in an external position, probably as Pope-Hennessy (cat. nos. 10 and 11) suggested, as flanking a window on the outside of the church. Similar lions may be seen in various places Apulia, at Bitonto, Troia and Trani.

Apulia seems the most likely place these two lions were executed, around 1200.
Subject depicted
Lion
Summary
The lion formed the support for a column and was carved integrally with the base. The weathering of the lions, which is severe around the head, suggests that it was used externally, to flank a door or window. The relatively small proportions of the lion means it is comparable to examples besides the windows in the apses of the cathedral of Bitonto and Troia and on the façade of the Cathedral at Termoli.
Associated object
324A-1889
Bibliographic references
  • Williamson, Paul. Catalogue of Romanesque Sculpture. London, V& A publications, 1983. pp. 82-3. J. Pope-Hennessy, 'Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum', vol. 1 (London, 1964), p. 11.
  • de Chirico, V and Tempesto, A. Schegge da una Cattedrale: le pietre ernatiche della Collegiata di S. Michele Arcangelo (1235- 1782) Terlizzi. 1998. pp. 27, 133-5
  • Pope Hennessey, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964. pp.11
  • Prandi, A et al. L'art dans l'Italie méridionale. Aggiornamento dell'opera di Emile Bertaux. Rome, 1978, vi.
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1889. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1890. pp. 34
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
324-1889

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16297/column-base-unknown/
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