Christ Blessing
Panel
late 9th century (made)
late 9th century (made)
| Artist/Maker |
This relief is said to have come from Syria. Probably, with A.2-1912 from the covers of a book.
The iconographical tradition of representing Christ was slow to develop in Byzantine art. Once established, however, images of Christ remained remarkably consistent because of an emphasis from sixth-century onwards on the authentic likeness of Christ that were all supposedly derived from Acheiropoiet fashioned during his lifetime but lost.
The best known type is that of Christ Pantokrator - "all sovereign". Traditionally the pantokrator was depicted frontally disposed, a severe bearded figure, blessing with his right hand raised before his chest, while clasping a Gospel book or scroll in his left. On the present example the type of the head is unusually free, and full of character, and in this respect resembles the heads of Christ on the reverse of coins of Justinianus II (685-695); these also have the cross behind the head, without the halo.
Reliefs treated with stain in the manner of this panel, are rare, and the colour was probably used to give the appearance of steatite. The green hue could also come as a result of burial, as ivory is extremely permeable and may absorb colour from surrounding materials.
The iconographical tradition of representing Christ was slow to develop in Byzantine art. Once established, however, images of Christ remained remarkably consistent because of an emphasis from sixth-century onwards on the authentic likeness of Christ that were all supposedly derived from Acheiropoiet fashioned during his lifetime but lost.
The best known type is that of Christ Pantokrator - "all sovereign". Traditionally the pantokrator was depicted frontally disposed, a severe bearded figure, blessing with his right hand raised before his chest, while clasping a Gospel book or scroll in his left. On the present example the type of the head is unusually free, and full of character, and in this respect resembles the heads of Christ on the reverse of coins of Justinianus II (685-695); these also have the cross behind the head, without the halo.
Reliefs treated with stain in the manner of this panel, are rare, and the colour was probably used to give the appearance of steatite. The green hue could also come as a result of burial, as ivory is extremely permeable and may absorb colour from surrounding materials.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Panel-relief, ivory in relief, part of icon or book cover, Christ Pantocrator, Byzantine, probably late 19th century |
| Physical description | Panel depicting the figure of Christ in half-length; the left hand holding a scroll the right hand delivering a blessing. The draperies are richly folded, and there is a jewelled cruciform halo behind Christ's head. The panel has a raised border: the background has almost completely perished, and is restored with green tinted plaster. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Acquired in London. Said to have come from Syria. Probably, with A.2-1912 from the covers of a book. |
| Historical context | The iconographical tradition of representing Christ was slow to develop in Byzantine art. Once established, however, images of Christ remained remarkably consistent because of an emphasis from sixth-century onwards on the authentic likeness of Christ that were all supposedly derived from Acheiropoiet fashioned during his lifetime but lost. The best known type is that of Christ Pantokrator - "all sovereign". Traditionally the pantokrator was depicted frontally disposed, a severe bearded figure, blessing with his right hand raised before his chest, while clasping a Gospel book or scroll in his left. On the present example the type of the head is unusually free, and full of character, and in this respect resembles the heads of Christ on the reverse of coins of Justinianus II (685-695); these also have the cross behind the head, without the halo. Reliefs treated with stain in the manner of this panel, are rare, and the colour was probably used to give the appearance of steatite. There seem to be no grounds for the addition of a circle in the plaster restoration of the halo. |
| Production | Byzantine Empire, probably late 9th century |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This relief is said to have come from Syria. Probably, with A.2-1912 from the covers of a book. The iconographical tradition of representing Christ was slow to develop in Byzantine art. Once established, however, images of Christ remained remarkably consistent because of an emphasis from sixth-century onwards on the authentic likeness of Christ that were all supposedly derived from Acheiropoiet fashioned during his lifetime but lost. The best known type is that of Christ Pantokrator - "all sovereign". Traditionally the pantokrator was depicted frontally disposed, a severe bearded figure, blessing with his right hand raised before his chest, while clasping a Gospel book or scroll in his left. On the present example the type of the head is unusually free, and full of character, and in this respect resembles the heads of Christ on the reverse of coins of Justinianus II (685-695); these also have the cross behind the head, without the halo. Reliefs treated with stain in the manner of this panel, are rare, and the colour was probably used to give the appearance of steatite. The green hue could also come as a result of burial, as ivory is extremely permeable and may absorb colour from surrounding materials. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.4-1910 |
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| Record created | October 29, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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