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 |
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| Gallery label | HEAD OF THE PATRIARCH SEMEI
This head once belonged to a seated figure of the patriarch Semei in the south-east transept clerestory of Canterbury Cathedral, now much restored and moved to the west window. The figure formed part of a series of windows dedicated to the ancestors of Christ. The head has been set among fragments of old glass, the face, part of the neck and the hair being original.
England (Canterbury), about 1180
Museum no. C.854-1920; given by the Revd. J. Wheatley((PW) 2003) |
| 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 |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.854-1920 |
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| Record created | January 7, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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