Head of the Patriarch Semei
Panel
ca. 1180 (made)
ca. 1180 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This panel comes from the south-east transept of Canterbury Cathedral, where it once formed part of a series of windows depicting the ancestors of Christ. This series has been disrupted, and the seated figure to which this head originally belonged is now in the west window.
Some of the surviving medieval glass was removed from the cathedral about in the mid 1800s and replaced with copies. The original panels were stored in various glaziers’ workshops, and eventually sold off to private collectors. This panel was found in a dealer’s shop in Rochester by the Reverend S. Wheatley, who gave it to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1920.
The patriarchs, or ancestors of Christ, are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons and their descendents.
Some of the surviving medieval glass was removed from the cathedral about in the mid 1800s and replaced with copies. The original panels were stored in various glaziers’ workshops, and eventually sold off to private collectors. This panel was found in a dealer’s shop in Rochester by the Reverend S. Wheatley, who gave it to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1920.
The patriarchs, or ancestors of Christ, are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons and their descendents.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Head of the Patriarch Semei (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Stained glass |
| Brief description | Panel of clear and coloured glass with painted details and later additions. Depicting the head of the patriarch Semei. Originally from the Southeast transept of Canterbury Cathedral. English, about 1180. |
| Physical description | Panel depicting head in profile. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by the Rev. J. Wheatley |
| Object history | This head was removed by George Austin, glazier at the Cathedral, in 1855. it was recovered from a dealer in Rochester by the Rev. S. Wheatley who gave it to the museum in 1920. |
| Historical context | This is the only true profile head among the large figures from the clerestory and one of only three un-bearded faces. |
| Production | Originally in Canterbury Cathedral. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This panel comes from the south-east transept of Canterbury Cathedral, where it once formed part of a series of windows depicting the ancestors of Christ. This series has been disrupted, and the seated figure to which this head originally belonged is now in the west window. Some of the surviving medieval glass was removed from the cathedral about in the mid 1800s and replaced with copies. The original panels were stored in various glaziers’ workshops, and eventually sold off to private collectors. This panel was found in a dealer’s shop in Rochester by the Reverend S. Wheatley, who gave it to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1920. The patriarchs, or ancestors of Christ, are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons and their descendents. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.854-1920 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 7, 1998 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
