St John the Baptist
Statuette
ca. 1690-1700 (made)
ca. 1690-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Like A.61-1949, a similar ivory relief of St Sebastian, this piece is described in Museum records as Spanish or Portuguese, although it is difficult to make a more precise attribution.
Iconographically they do not belong together (a New Testament Saint and a martyr Saint), and the frames differ from one another in certain details. The slightly differing sizes of the frames, as well as the irregularity of the sizes of the lozenges within each may indicate that they were made at a later date. The two figures may however have been carved in the same workshop.
Iconographically they do not belong together (a New Testament Saint and a martyr Saint), and the frames differ from one another in certain details. The slightly differing sizes of the frames, as well as the irregularity of the sizes of the lozenges within each may indicate that they were made at a later date. The two figures may however have been carved in the same workshop.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St John the Baptist (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Relief in ivory in ivory and wood frame |
| Brief description | Statuette, relief in ivory, St. John the Baptist, Spanish or Portuguese, ca. 1690-1700 |
| Physical description | St John the Baptist is shown virtually carved in the round, although the back is fixed to the back of the frame. Wearing a goatskin, his body is twisted to his left, stepping forward with his right foot, while he looks down and back to the lamb, which in turn twists its head round to gaze up at the saint. With furrowed brow, he points with his right hand up to heaven, while holding in his left hand a staff with a scroll inscribed 'ANUS . DEI.' The frame is wood and ivory, with an arabesque pattern on the inner sides of the frame, the background black and white lozenges. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'A [G] NUS . DEI' (on the scroll) |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A. |
| Object history | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A. in 1949. Formerly on loan from Dr Hildburgh. |
| Historical context | This forms part with the figure of St John the Baptist in a similar frame (V&A, no. A.61-1949). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Like A.61-1949, a similar ivory relief of St Sebastian, this piece is described in Museum records as Spanish or Portuguese, although it is difficult to make a more precise attribution. Iconographically they do not belong together (a New Testament Saint and a martyr Saint), and the frames differ from one another in certain details. The slightly differing sizes of the frames, as well as the irregularity of the sizes of the lozenges within each may indicate that they were made at a later date. The two figures may however have been carved in the same workshop. |
| Associated object | A.61-1949 (Ensemble) |
| Bibliographic reference | Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 331, pp. 337, 8 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.62-1949 |
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| Record created | February 26, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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