St Christopher thumbnail 1
St Christopher thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

St Christopher

Statuette
ca. 1650 - ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This ivory statuette representing St. Christopher carrying the Child Christ astride on his shoulders, was made in ca. 1650-1700, perhaps in Portugal. This statuette is on an ebony base, supported by three ivory feet in the form of winged monsters. Despite certain differences in for example the drapery and the pose of the Christ Child, this ivory is very likely based on an engraving by Aegidius Sadeler (ca. 1570-1629), dedicated to Wolfgang Jacob Hoffmann, the Prior of the Augustine Monastery in Vienna. The engraving again is a reproduction of a painting by the Venetian painter Jacopo Bassano (1510-1592), which is now in Havana.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSt Christopher (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Statuette, carved ivory, of St. Christopher, perhaps Portuguese, ca. 1650-1700
Physical description
Carved ivory statuette of St. Christopher. He stands on his right leg, his left leg resting on a raised area of the socle.
He holds in his left hand an ebony staff topped with a branch of ivory leaves; he carries the infant Christ astride his shoulders, who raises his right hand. The fingers of the Child's right hand are broken. The statuette is mounted on a triangular ebony base, which has in front an ivory plaque with a design of pierced scrolls. It is supported by three ivory feet in the form of three winged monsters with human heads.
Dimensions
  • Overall height: 38.8cm
  • Ivory alone height: 27.5cm
Credit line
Given by Sir Charles Wyndham Murray
Object history
Given by Sir Charles Wyndham Murray K.C.B. in 1922.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This ivory statuette representing St. Christopher carrying the Child Christ astride on his shoulders, was made in ca. 1650-1700, perhaps in Portugal. This statuette is on an ebony base, supported by three ivory feet in the form of winged monsters. Despite certain differences in for example the drapery and the pose of the Christ Child, this ivory is very likely based on an engraving by Aegidius Sadeler (ca. 1570-1629), dedicated to Wolfgang Jacob Hoffmann, the Prior of the Augustine Monastery in Vienna. The engraving again is a reproduction of a painting by the Venetian painter Jacopo Bassano (1510-1592), which is now in Havana.
Bibliographic references
  • Estella Marcos. M. M. La escultura barroca de marfil en Espana : las escuelas europeas y las coloniales. Madrid, 1984, II, p. 86
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1927-1929. Part II, p. 111
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 329, pp. 334, 5
Collection
Accession number
A.17-1922

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 22, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest