St Erasmus
Statuette
ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ivory statuette representing Saint Erasmus is made by an unknown sculptor. It is probaly a French pastiche dating from ca. 1850, but carved in the style of the eighteenth century, borrowing Spanish baroque traditions. The facial features are distinctly nineteenth century in style, and the elaborate yet crude carving of the robes would also support this date.
Saint Erasmus was the Bishop of Formiae in Campagna, Italy. He fled to Mount Lebanon in the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, where he was fed by a raven so he could stay in hiding. When discovered, he was imprisoned, but an angel rescued him. Recaptured, he was martyred. According to legend, he was disemboweled at Formiae, a windlass used to unwind his entrails.
Saint Erasmus was the Bishop of Formiae in Campagna, Italy. He fled to Mount Lebanon in the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, where he was fed by a raven so he could stay in hiding. When discovered, he was imprisoned, but an angel rescued him. Recaptured, he was martyred. According to legend, he was disemboweled at Formiae, a windlass used to unwind his entrails.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Erasmus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory |
| Brief description | Statuette, ivory, representing St Erasmus, probably French, ca. 1850, in the style of 17th century |
| Physical description | This statuette represents St Erasmus in mitre and cope with jewelled morse. A crucifix hangs from his waist. He blesses with this right hand. He stands on his right leg, his left leg slightly bent. The borders of the vestments have carved edges imitating embroidery, but the carving is relatively crude. Stylised flowers are carved onto the cope and the mitre. On the back of the cope a crown of thorns encircles a Greek cross, with three nails at the top and an 'L' and 'S' on either side. The curve of the body follows the curve of the tusk. On the base is an inscription. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Bought for 226 thalers (£32 19s. 2d.) by Henry Cole in Berlin from Minutoli on 17 October 1863. The vendor was the Liegnitz collector Alexander von Minutoli (1806-1886), who acquired primarily ceramics and glass. He sold off parts of his collection from the 1850s onwards; a substantial proportion went to form part of what was later to be the Kunstgewerbe Museum in Berlin. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ivory statuette representing Saint Erasmus is made by an unknown sculptor. It is probaly a French pastiche dating from ca. 1850, but carved in the style of the eighteenth century, borrowing Spanish baroque traditions. The facial features are distinctly nineteenth century in style, and the elaborate yet crude carving of the robes would also support this date. Saint Erasmus was the Bishop of Formiae in Campagna, Italy. He fled to Mount Lebanon in the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, where he was fed by a raven so he could stay in hiding. When discovered, he was imprisoned, but an angel rescued him. Recaptured, he was martyred. According to legend, he was disemboweled at Formiae, a windlass used to unwind his entrails. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 9069-1863 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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