At the time of acquisition, this carving was said to have come "from a church in the neighbourhood of Bologna". It is related to a number of tomb-slabs in the Museo Civico at Bologna, which were formerly in the church of San Francesco. The identity of the figure has not been established. The condition of the slab suggests that it was set against a wall and not laid on the floor.
Physical description
Tombstone carved with a supine figure with eyes closed and forearms crossed, the hands resting on the thighs.
Place of Origin
Bologna, Italy (made)
Date
1425-1450 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Istrian stone
Dimensions
Height: 202.9 cm, Width: 99.4 cm, Depth: 6 cm, Weight: 264 kg
Object history note
At the time of acquisition, this carving was said to have come "from a church in the neighbourhood of Bologna". It is similar to other tombstones of academics from Bologna University, which were previously in the church of San Francesco and are now in the Museo Civile there.
Historical context note
This tombstone was probably made for a lector of Bologna university. The books shown by his elbows and feet are symbols of his learned status. The erased coats of arms and lack of inscriptions means that there are few clues to the exact identity of the figure. Tombstones like this were often placed on the floor of the church, although the good condition of this relief may suggest that this slab was in fact set in to a wall.
Descriptive line
Tombstone of a lector at Bologna University, Istrian stone, Italy (Bologna), 1425-1450
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1882. London, 1883, pp. 7
MacLagan, E, and Longhurst, Margaret, H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London: V&A, 1932. pp.109
Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1964. pp. 252
Ducati. Guida del Museo Civile di Bologna. 1923. pp.219
Venturi, A. Storia dell'arte Italiana. IV, Milan. pp.833, fig. 693
Ricci. Monumenti sepolcrali di lettori dello studio Bolognese nei secoli XIII, XIV e XV. Bologna: 1888.
Exhibition History
Depth of Field: the Place of Relief in the Time of Donatello (Henry Moore Institute, Leeds 23/09/2004-27/03/2005)
Materials
Istrian stone
Subjects depicted
Death; Tombs; Books; Universities; Scholars; Bologna
Categories
Sculpture; Architectural fittings
Collection code
SCP
