The Holy Family (ivory relief) thumbnail 1
The Holy Family (ivory relief) thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

The Holy Family (ivory relief)

Relief
c. 1700 - ca. 1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Heermann, Paul (sculptor)
Place of origin
Dresden (made)

Ivory was popular as a material for religious subjects, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. German and Netherlandish artists were renowned for their dexterity in ivory carving. This relief of the Holy Family with the infant St John the Baptist, is monogrammed by Paul Heermann (1673-1732), who was the nephew of a sculptor, Johann Georg Heermann, and who worked in Prague and Rome, before settling in Dresden in about 1701/2. As well as carving ivory and stone, Heermann also provided models for the Meissen porcelain factory. This piece is likely to be based on an engraved source; another version is in the Würth Collection in Germany.


Object details

Categories
Christianity
Sculpture
Religion
Object type
Relief
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Relief
  • Frame
TitleThe Holy Family (ivory relief) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ivory relief on wood backing in a gilt metal frame.
Ivory
Wood
Gold
Relief
Gilding
Brief description
Relief, ivory in gilt metal frame, of the Holy Family and young St John the Baptist, by Paul Heermann, Germany (Dresden), ca. 1700-1730
Physical description
The Virgin sits with legs crossed on a tasselled cushion on the ground. She looks down to the left at the Child Christ who straddles her knees to embrace the young St. John, who kneels on the left. St. Joseph above to the right leans with his left elbow on a treetrunk, rests his head on his left hand and turns his head upwards to his right, with his eyes closed. Behind the group is a tree and in the distance to the left a tree on a hill.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.5cm
  • Width: 9.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'PH (elided)' (PH is the mongram for the sculptor Paul Heermann.)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1951. Apparently acquired from a 'Bond Steet shop' [in London] by the donor (Museum records).
Historical context
The relief is signed in the lower left-hand corner. It is probably based on an engraving.
Subjects depicted
Tree Trunk
Virgin Mary
Joseph
Christ Child
Summary
Ivory was popular as a material for religious subjects, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. German and Netherlandish artists were renowned for their dexterity in ivory carving. This relief of the Holy Family with the infant St John the Baptist, is monogrammed by Paul Heermann (1673-1732), who was the nephew of a sculptor, Johann Georg Heermann, and who worked in Prague and Rome, before settling in Dresden in about 1701/2. As well as carving ivory and stone, Heermann also provided models for the Meissen porcelain factory. This piece is likely to be based on an engraved source; another version is in the Würth Collection in Germany.
Bibliographic references
  • C. Theuerkauff, Elfenbein Sammlung Reiner Winkler (2 vols.), Munich, 1984, pp. 58, note 20 on p. 59, p. 171 and note 2 on p. 172
  • E. von Philippovich, 'Peter Hencke, der Monogrammist JPH und PH' in Mainz und der Mittelrhein. Studien für Wolfgang Fritz Volbach zu seinem 70. Geburtstag, Mainz, 1966, p. 679
  • Theuerkauff, Christian, ed. Elfenbein, Sammlung Reiner Winkler, Vol II, 1994, p. 40, no. 10
  • Theuerkauff, Christian, ed. Elfenbein, Sammlung Reiner Winkler, Vol I, 1984, pp. 58-59 and p. 171
  • Schmidt, E. D., Paul Heermann (1673-1732). Meister der Barockskulptur in Böhmen und Sachsen. Neue Aspekte seines Schaffens, Munich, 2005, p. 69 and fig. 23 on p. 32
  • Kappel, Jutta. Elfenbein. Einblicke in doe Sammlung Reienr Winkler, exhibition catalogue, Dresden, 2001, cat. 13, p. 48
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 69
  • Cf. Silberhirsch & Wunderprunk, in der Kunstkammer Würth, exh. cat., Kunsthalle Würth, Schwäbisch Hall, 2015, pp. 110,1, ill. p. 111
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.45-1951

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Record createdJanuary 13, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89237/the-holy-family-ivory-relief-relief-heermann-paul/
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