St. Mark
Relief
ca. 1830-40 (made)
ca. 1830-40 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This panel, part of a four panel relief is representing St Mark and is made circa between 1830-40 in Germany.
Although the carver rendered the hands and faces of the Evangelists more or less skillfully, other elements such as the ox, the piles of books, the tracery, and even the schematic drapery are relatively clumsily carved. For these reasons it may be suggested that the four reliefs were made in the first half of the 19th century. They were perhaps historicizing pieces, possibly made in about 1830-40 in a workshop which was highly receptive to the neo-Gothic style, perhaps to decorate a pulpit (as would have been appropriate for these subjects), and quickly removed from their original context, or never used.
Alternatively the present pieces may have been made to deceive, and sold by an unscrupulous dealer as genuine 15th century pieces.
Although the carver rendered the hands and faces of the Evangelists more or less skillfully, other elements such as the ox, the piles of books, the tracery, and even the schematic drapery are relatively clumsily carved. For these reasons it may be suggested that the four reliefs were made in the first half of the 19th century. They were perhaps historicizing pieces, possibly made in about 1830-40 in a workshop which was highly receptive to the neo-Gothic style, perhaps to decorate a pulpit (as would have been appropriate for these subjects), and quickly removed from their original context, or never used.
Alternatively the present pieces may have been made to deceive, and sold by an unscrupulous dealer as genuine 15th century pieces.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St. Mark (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed limewood carved in relief |
| Brief description | Panel relief, representing St Mark, by an unknown artist, ca. 1830-40, Germany |
| Physical description | St. Mark is seated frontally on a bench with a board and a book before him. His body is turned to his left with his head raised in front on a square opening. Although now missing he must have held a quill which he was in the process of sharpening. An open cupboard with two piles of books is on the right, and at his left a crouching lion emerges with a fluttering scroll in its mouth. The relief consists of four pieces nailed and dowelled together. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Formerly in the David Falcke Collection, London. Falke Sale, Christie and Manson, London, 19 April 1858, lot 2886. Bought for £4 4s for each panel. |
| Historical context | Although the carver rendered the hands and faces of the Evangelists more or less skillfully, other elements such as the ox, the piles of books, the tracery, and even the schematic drapery are relatively clumsily carved. For these reasons it may be suggested that the four reliefs were made in the first half of the 19th century. They were perhaps historicizing pieces, possibly made in about 1830-40 in a workshop which was highly receptive to the neo-Gothic style, perhaps to decorate a pulpit (as would have been appropriate for these subjects), and quickly removed from their original context, or never used. Alternatively the present pieces may have been made to deceive, and sold by an unscrupulous dealer as genuine 15th century pieces. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This panel, part of a four panel relief is representing St Mark and is made circa between 1830-40 in Germany. Although the carver rendered the hands and faces of the Evangelists more or less skillfully, other elements such as the ox, the piles of books, the tracery, and even the schematic drapery are relatively clumsily carved. For these reasons it may be suggested that the four reliefs were made in the first half of the 19th century. They were perhaps historicizing pieces, possibly made in about 1830-40 in a workshop which was highly receptive to the neo-Gothic style, perhaps to decorate a pulpit (as would have been appropriate for these subjects), and quickly removed from their original context, or never used. Alternatively the present pieces may have been made to deceive, and sold by an unscrupulous dealer as genuine 15th century pieces. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4842-1858 |
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| Record created | June 11, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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