The Assumption of the Virgin
Panel
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an ivory group made in the 19th century France, representing the Assumption of the Virgin.
When the relief was acquired it was thought to be Italian of the 17th century, which is a mystifying ascription. Later in 1924 it was ascribed as being of the mid-fourteenth century by Koechlin but he was disturbed by its stylistic and compositional infelicities. The anatomically impossible angle of the kneeling angel's head, is indeed maladroit; and the simpering faces, with pointed noses and chins, seem to display a mannered exaggeration - almost a parodic imitation of the 'Gothic smile' manifested in large scale at Bourges and elsewhere.
When the relief was acquired it was thought to be Italian of the 17th century, which is a mystifying ascription. Later in 1924 it was ascribed as being of the mid-fourteenth century by Koechlin but he was disturbed by its stylistic and compositional infelicities. The anatomically impossible angle of the kneeling angel's head, is indeed maladroit; and the simpering faces, with pointed noses and chins, seem to display a mannered exaggeration - almost a parodic imitation of the 'Gothic smile' manifested in large scale at Bourges and elsewhere.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Assumption of the Virgin (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved elephant ivory |
| Brief description | Group, ivory in high relief, the Assumption of the Virgin, France, probably nineteenth century |
| Physical description | Ivory group in high relief representing the Assumption of the Virgin. The Virgin with clasped hands is upheld by angels, four on either side. Pierced at the bottom, below the Virgin, and was set on a separate background. The back is cross-hatched througout to support adhesion. Remains of red paint. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought in 1866 from Tito Gagliardi, Florence, in 1866 (£14). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an ivory group made in the 19th century France, representing the Assumption of the Virgin. When the relief was acquired it was thought to be Italian of the 17th century, which is a mystifying ascription. Later in 1924 it was ascribed as being of the mid-fourteenth century by Koechlin but he was disturbed by its stylistic and compositional infelicities. The anatomically impossible angle of the kneeling angel's head, is indeed maladroit; and the simpering faces, with pointed noses and chins, seem to display a mannered exaggeration - almost a parodic imitation of the 'Gothic smile' manifested in large scale at Bourges and elsewhere. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 68-1866 |
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| Record created | May 13, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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