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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Resurrection

Panel
15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

On this crowded panel Christ rises from the tomb with His right hand raised in blessing, startling the soldiers set to guard him. With his right foot, Jesus steps onto the shoulder of one of the soldiers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Resurrection (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved alabaster
Brief description
Alabaster panel depicting the Resurrection. English, 15th century.
Physical description
On this crowded panel, the bearded figure of Christ, wearing the torse, the loincloth and the shroud over his shoulders, is represented with his right hand raised in blessing holding the cross-staff of the Resurrection in his left. The end of the cross-staff, remarkably, rests on the helmet of a sleeping soldier. Christ steps from the tomb with his right foot, his torso represented frontally but his hips and legs viewed from the side, and turned to his left. His right foot rests on the shoulder of a soldier, wearing a basinet, a tippet of mail, a low-belted jupon and armour, who kneels asleep in the bottom right of the panel, facing right, resting his head on his arm. A battle-axe lies on a piece of raised ground behind him. A similar soldier is represented on the lower left of the panel, falling back onto a piece of ground and supporting himself with his right hand; he holds a battle-axe in his left hand and looks up at Christ in amazement. Two similar soldiers are represented behind the tomb, to right and left. The left-hand soldier is asleep, supporting his head on his right hand and holding in his left a lance which rests over the front edge of the tomb. On the right, the other soldier holds his halberd in both hands, looking up at Christ. A half-length figure of an angel, hands raised, is represented in the top left corner of the panel.

The top right corner of the panel is missing. Christ's right hand is damaged and his left hand and the top of the cross-staff of the Resurrection are missing. There is a diagonal break in the panel from Christ's right hand to his head and a chip in the lower left of the panel. No paint remains on the panel. The back of the panel is cut away at the bottom. There are four lead-plugged holes with latten wires attached.
Dimensions
  • Height: 42.2cm
  • Width: 24cm
From Cheetham, English Medieval Alabasters, 1984.
Style
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris. On loan from him since 1922. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946.

Historical significance: Christ's pose is unusual: with the exception of the present panel and an example which forms part of a Passion altarpiece in the Musée Thomas Dobrée, Nantes, he is shown in English alabaster panels of the subject with his right leg extended in front of him to his right.
Subjects depicted
Summary
On this crowded panel Christ rises from the tomb with His right hand raised in blessing, startling the soldiers set to guard him. With his right foot, Jesus steps onto the shoulder of one of the soldiers.
Bibliographic references
  • Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 277 (cat. 204), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0
  • Hildburgh, W.L. Notes on some English Medieval Alabaster Carvings. Antiquaries Journal. III, 1923, pp. 34-6, pl. VII, 4.
Collection
Accession number
A.29-1946

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Record createdNovember 12, 2002
Record URL
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