An Ecclesiastic, perhaps Germain Piètre
Bust
ca. 1650 (made)
ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The bust portrays a balding or tonsured middle-aged man, probably an ecclesiastic, who is shown wearing a skull cap with hair just below his ears, and a moustache and goatee beard. The sitter has been tentatively identified as Germain Piètre, who was Procureur de la Ville de Paris from 1641 to 1654. He faces forward, with his eyes looking slightly to his right, his mouth slightly open. He wears a habit unbuttoned at the lower chest to reveal a pendant cross. It is a fine example of French portraiture in ivory, although its author is unknown. Theuerkauff suggested that the bust might be by Simon Jaillot. or his younger brother, or perhaps by another sculptor in their circle. The fine quality of carving and naturalsitic quality suggest indeed that this piece could be by a sculptor of the calibre of Simon Jaillot.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | An Ecclesiastic, perhaps Germain Piètre (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory on turned wood socle. |
| Brief description | Bust, ivory, an ecclesiastic (perhaps Germain Piètre), perhaps by the circle of Simon Jaillot, French, ca. 1650 |
| Physical description | An ecclesiastic, possibly Germain Piètre, Procureur de la Ville de Paris, in late middle age, wearing a skull cap, with hair just below his ears and a moutsche and goatee beard. He is dressed in a habit unbuttoned at the lower breast to reveal a cross; the habit bears a small hood falling down the back and is overlapped at the neck by a soft collar, probably of a shirt or tunic. The brow of the man is wrinkled, the face double-chinned, the hair is long, hanging a little over the collar at the back and thickly in front of the ears; he would appear to be otherwise bald, or tonsured. The eyes directed towards his right. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Given by Rev. A. Hawkins Jones in 1957. Formerly E.L. Paget Collection, from before 1936; sold from E.L. Paget Collection at Sotheby's, London, 11 October, 1949, lot 87, pl. XIII; sold to Milne for £70. Bought from Alfred Spero, London, for £100, in 1957, by Rev. A. Hawkins Jones, Kent. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The bust portrays a balding or tonsured middle-aged man, probably an ecclesiastic, who is shown wearing a skull cap with hair just below his ears, and a moustache and goatee beard. The sitter has been tentatively identified as Germain Piètre, who was Procureur de la Ville de Paris from 1641 to 1654. He faces forward, with his eyes looking slightly to his right, his mouth slightly open. He wears a habit unbuttoned at the lower chest to reveal a pendant cross. It is a fine example of French portraiture in ivory, although its author is unknown. Theuerkauff suggested that the bust might be by Simon Jaillot. or his younger brother, or perhaps by another sculptor in their circle. The fine quality of carving and naturalsitic quality suggest indeed that this piece could be by a sculptor of the calibre of Simon Jaillot. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.17-1957 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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