Scenes from the Life of Christ and the Virgin
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Workshop of Embriachi (school of, sculptor)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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These panels are portions of an altarpiece by the school of the Workhop of the Embriachi and made in North Italy in ca. 1400-1420.
These panels are evidently part of an altarpiece similar to A 11-1928 or to the example in the Certosa di Pavia referred to in connection with it.
The Embriachi workshop was a north Italian family of entrepreneurs and carvers. The precise location of the workshop is unknown, except that it originated in Florence and in ca. 1431 there was apparently a workshop in Venice, in the area of S Luca.
They employed local workers specialising in 'certosina' (inlay of stained woods, bone and horn), and the workshop produced items carved in bone (usually horse or ox) with wood and bone marquetry.
As well as altarpieces, the workshop also made caskets as bridal gifts to hold jewels or documents, and these were often decorated with scenes from mythology.
Physical description
This predella of an altarpiece is divided into nine compartments by figures of saints and angels under Gothic niches. The subjects represent incidents in the history of Christ and the Virgin. The scenes represent: The Annunciation, the first Dream of Joseph and the Journey to Bethlehem; Christ among the Doctors; The Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes; the Last Supper; Christ in the Sepulchre; the Ascension; the Foolish Virgins (?); the Assumption of the Virgin with St. Thomas receiving her girdle.
Place of Origin
Italy (North, made)
Date
ca. 1400-1420 (made)
Artist/maker
Workshop of Embriachi (school of, sculptor)
Materials and Techniques
Carved bone plaques
Dimensions
Height: 65.3 cm, Width: 47.5 cm
Object history note
Acquired from the Gigli-Campagna Collection, £50.
Historical context note
These panels are evidently part of an altarpiece similar to A 11-1928 or to the example in the Certosa di Pavia referred to in connection with it.
Descriptive line
Panel pieces of the predella of an altarpiece, bone, 'Scenes from the Life of Christ and the Virgin', by the school of The Embriachi, North Italy, ca. 1400-1420
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 20
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, pp. 63, 64.
Mallé, Luigi (ed.).Smalti Avori del Museo D'Arte Antica, Torino, 1969, p.301-303
for discussion of this altarpiece in relation to one in their collection.
Materials
Bone
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Mary (Virgin Mary); Christ Child; Joseph (Saint)
Categories
Sculpture; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
SCP
