The Healing of the Blind Man and The Healing of the Leper
Book Cover
ca. 870-880 (made)
ca. 870-880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of two ivory plaques, probably from a book cove, made in Lorraine (Metz) in about 870-880.
This plaque shows Christ healing the Leper and the Blind, while the other (Mus. no. 256-1867) would show the Transfiguration.
During the period 900-1200, ivories were produced all over Europe, often in monasteries and ecclesiastical or royal courts. The pieces were used for liturgical purposes. Ivory carvings appeared on book covers, reliquary caskets, antependia (the panel in front of an altar) and religious icons.
Melzak convincingly connected the plaques with the Later Metz ivory panels of the border of the 'Cathedra Petri' in Rome and dated them to 870- 80. Iconographically the scenes of the healing of the leper and the healing of the blind man may be compared with those on the contemporary plaques in Berlin and Würzburg and products in Metz.
This plaque shows Christ healing the Leper and the Blind, while the other (Mus. no. 256-1867) would show the Transfiguration.
During the period 900-1200, ivories were produced all over Europe, often in monasteries and ecclesiastical or royal courts. The pieces were used for liturgical purposes. Ivory carvings appeared on book covers, reliquary caskets, antependia (the panel in front of an altar) and religious icons.
Melzak convincingly connected the plaques with the Later Metz ivory panels of the border of the 'Cathedra Petri' in Rome and dated them to 870- 80. Iconographically the scenes of the healing of the leper and the healing of the blind man may be compared with those on the contemporary plaques in Berlin and Würzburg and products in Metz.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Healing of the Blind Man and The Healing of the Leper (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Elephant ivory carved in high relief |
| Brief description | Book cover, ivory, The Healing of the Blind Man and the Healing of the Leper, Carolingian, France, Lorraine (Metz), ca. 870-880 |
| Physical description | In the lower scene of the panel Christ is accompanied by two apostles and touches with his thumb the eyes of the blind man, who is guided forward by three helpers. Above, Christ, with four disciples following, heals the leper, the latter's left arm and both legs covered with raised sores. The scenes are enclosed with foliate border, itself contained inside a plain frame. The background to the plaque is extremely thin and affected by a number of vertical cracks. There are pin-holes in the corners for fixing the plaque to a separate backing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | NB. While the term 'the blind' has been used in this record, it has since fallen from usage and is now considered offensive. The term is repeated in this record in its original historical context. Purchased from Webb, £25. |
| Historical context | Melzak convincingly connected the plaques with the Later Metz ivory panels of the border of the 'Cathedra Petri' in Rome and dated them to 870-80. Iconographically the scenes of the healing of the leper and the healing of the blind man may be compared with those on the contemporary plaques in Berlin and Würzburg and products in Metz. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is one of two ivory plaques, probably from a book cove, made in Lorraine (Metz) in about 870-880. This plaque shows Christ healing the Leper and the Blind, while the other (Mus. no. 256-1867) would show the Transfiguration. During the period 900-1200, ivories were produced all over Europe, often in monasteries and ecclesiastical or royal courts. The pieces were used for liturgical purposes. Ivory carvings appeared on book covers, reliquary caskets, antependia (the panel in front of an altar) and religious icons. Melzak convincingly connected the plaques with the Later Metz ivory panels of the border of the 'Cathedra Petri' in Rome and dated them to 870- 80. Iconographically the scenes of the healing of the leper and the healing of the blind man may be compared with those on the contemporary plaques in Berlin and Würzburg and products in Metz. |
| Associated object | 256-1867 (Set) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 255-1867 |
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| Record created | December 29, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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