This is an ivory panel from a casket made in the second half of 10th century. This panel depicts a large figure of Heracles, naked except for a large cloak, and holding a spear, is supported by a smaller, fully dressed figure, who appears to tweak Herakles' left nipple.
The scene illustrates the drunkenness of Herakles at the Court of Omphale.
Physical description
This panel depicts a large figure of Heracles, naked except for a large cloak, and holding a spear, is supported by a smaller, fully dressed figure, who appears to tweak Herakles' left nipple. The top right-hand corner, which is cut away, shows on the cut face traces of the earlier carving of a border of pearled ornament.
Place of Origin
Byzantine Empire (made)
Date
second half of 10th century (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Carved ivory
Dimensions
Height: 6.4 cm, Width: 4.5 cm
Object history note
In the possession of John Webb, purchased from Webb in 1867
Descriptive line
Casket panel, ivory, depicting the drunken Hercules, supported by a man, Byzantine (Constantinople), second half of 10th century
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Beckwith, John. The Veroli Casket. London: HMSO, 1962. p.10, Fig.10 (Museum Monographs No. 18)
Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868., p. 11.
Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929. Part I. p. 37.
Goldschmidt, Adolph and Weitzmann, Kurt. Die Byzantinischen Elfenbeinskulpturen . I, 16.
Williamson, Paul. Medieval Ivory Carvings. Early Christian to Romanesque. London, V&A Publishing, Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010, pp. 86, 7 , cat.no. 17
Exhibition History
The Glory of Byzantium (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 03/03/1997-06/07/1997)
Byzantine Art: A European Art (Athens) (01/04/1964-15/06/1964)
Masterpieces of Byzantine Art (Victoria and Albert Museum 09/11/1958-01/12/1958)
Masterpieces of Byzantine Art (23/08/1958-12/09/1958)
Splender de Byzance (Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels 02/10/1982-02/12/1982)
Materials
Elephant ivory
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Hercules; Perseus
Categories
Containers; Sculpture; Myths & Legends
Collection code
SCP
