The Lamentation
Statuette
ca. 1650 (made)
ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This figure group of ivory and partly gilded walnut is made by an unknown artist, perhaps in Italy in ca. 1650. Christ lies dead on his shroud. The mourning Virgin stands to the right, near his feet, and an angel stands on the other side, at his head. Above, mourning cherubim and angels hover in the clouds. The ivory figures are set in a fictile rocky setting made of walnut, with gilding representing foliage and two tree stumps. The door to the tomb is seen at the back.
The combination of wood and ivory seen here would have been specifically Italian if this piece dates from the seventeenth, rather than the eighteenth century; comparable works are in the Museo degli Argenti in Florence. Its supposed original Italian provenance, and the style of the Italianate figure of Christ, recalling the work of Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654), do suggest this piece might indeed be Italian, made in the mid-seventeenth century. It is a devotional item, and at the same time a highly-wrought precious work of art.
The combination of wood and ivory seen here would have been specifically Italian if this piece dates from the seventeenth, rather than the eighteenth century; comparable works are in the Museo degli Argenti in Florence. Its supposed original Italian provenance, and the style of the Italianate figure of Christ, recalling the work of Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654), do suggest this piece might indeed be Italian, made in the mid-seventeenth century. It is a devotional item, and at the same time a highly-wrought precious work of art.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 4 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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Title | The Lamentation (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Carved ivory and walnut, partly gilded. |
Brief description | Figure group, ivory and partly gilded walnut, The Lamentation of Christ, perhaps Italian, ca. 1650 |
Physical description | Christ lies dead on his shroud. The mourning Virgin stands to the right, near his feet, and an angel stands on the other side, at his head, holding the vernicle. Above, mourning cherubim and angels hover in the clouds. The ivory figures are set in a fictile rocky setting made of walnut, with gilding representing foliage and two tree stumps. The door to the tomb is seen at the back. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label |
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Credit line | Bought under the bequest of Captain H.B. Murray. |
Object history | Said to be from the Casa dei Principi Rospigliosi, Rome. Paul von Liebermann Collection, Berlin, 1905; Paul Ludwig Stilten Collection, Berlin by 1923. Purchased for £508 6s. (under the Murray Bequest) from the Silten Collection in 1930 (Herr Silten, Berlin W 62, Langrafenstr. 17). |
Subjects depicted | |
Associations | |
Summary | This figure group of ivory and partly gilded walnut is made by an unknown artist, perhaps in Italy in ca. 1650. Christ lies dead on his shroud. The mourning Virgin stands to the right, near his feet, and an angel stands on the other side, at his head. Above, mourning cherubim and angels hover in the clouds. The ivory figures are set in a fictile rocky setting made of walnut, with gilding representing foliage and two tree stumps. The door to the tomb is seen at the back. The combination of wood and ivory seen here would have been specifically Italian if this piece dates from the seventeenth, rather than the eighteenth century; comparable works are in the Museo degli Argenti in Florence. Its supposed original Italian provenance, and the style of the Italianate figure of Christ, recalling the work of Alessandro Algardi (1598-1654), do suggest this piece might indeed be Italian, made in the mid-seventeenth century. It is a devotional item, and at the same time a highly-wrought precious work of art. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.29:0 to 3-1930 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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