St Joseph
Statuette
1380-1420 (made)
1380-1420 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figure of St. Joseph originally formed part of a Nativity or a "Maria im Wochenbett" scene (the latter showing the Virgin sitting up in bed and playing with the Christ Child).
Such scenes are represented on the central panels of winged altarpieces in Lower Saxony and elsewhere in Germany in the late 14th and the first half of the 15th centuries. In style too the figure has its closest parallels in North German sculpture of the same date.
Such scenes are represented on the central panels of winged altarpieces in Lower Saxony and elsewhere in Germany in the late 14th and the first half of the 15th centuries. In style too the figure has its closest parallels in North German sculpture of the same date.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Joseph (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Chestnut (?), painted and gilded |
| Brief description | Statuette, painted and gilded chestnut (?), St. Joseph, North German (Lower Saxony), 1380-1420 |
| Physical description | St Joseph is shown looking downwards to his left and leaning on his staff, which he holds with both hands. He wears a soft cap on his head, with a cloak around his shoulders which is drawn across his body at the waist. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought from Mr. A. Einstein, London, in 1952, for £65, with funds from the Bequest of Captain H.B.Murray. Historical significance: Such scenes are represented on the central panels of winged altarpieces in Lower Saxony and elsewhere in Germany in the late 14th and the first half of the 15th centuries. In style too the figure has its closest parallels in North German sculpture of the same date. |
| Historical context | This figure originally formed part of a Nativity or a "Maria im Wochenbett" scene. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This figure of St. Joseph originally formed part of a Nativity or a "Maria im Wochenbett" scene (the latter showing the Virgin sitting up in bed and playing with the Christ Child). Such scenes are represented on the central panels of winged altarpieces in Lower Saxony and elsewhere in Germany in the late 14th and the first half of the 15th centuries. In style too the figure has its closest parallels in North German sculpture of the same date. |
| Bibliographic reference | Williamson, Paul and Evelyn, P. Northern Gothic Sculpture 1200-1450. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1988
p.156 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.77-1952 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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