Scenes from the Life of Christ
Ivory Diptych
1350-1375 (made)
1350-1375 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This ivory diptych is carved with scenes from the New Testament and made probably in about 1350-1375, probably in France. The scenes start in the lower left corner and can be read across both leaves of the diptych. These represent the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation, the Crucifixion, Christ with Mary in the Garden and the Coronation of the Virgin.
The devotional diptych is in many ways the object type most associated with the notion of Gothic ivory carving. The earliest examples probably date to the 1240s; these are complex, large and ambitious works that emerged, somewhat surprisingly, with no obvious precursors. The owners of ivory diptychs sometimes appear within their images. Such portraits indicate that they were special requests on the part of their commissioners, and they parallel the similar figures that appear in manuscripts and panel paintings of the period. The iconography of Gothic diptychs oscillated between two poles. The first of which is the desire to present narratives (Life of Christ and Virgin Mary) for envisaging. The second was the use of non-narrative images to form the focus of devotion.
The devotional diptych is in many ways the object type most associated with the notion of Gothic ivory carving. The earliest examples probably date to the 1240s; these are complex, large and ambitious works that emerged, somewhat surprisingly, with no obvious precursors. The owners of ivory diptychs sometimes appear within their images. Such portraits indicate that they were special requests on the part of their commissioners, and they parallel the similar figures that appear in manuscripts and panel paintings of the period. The iconography of Gothic diptychs oscillated between two poles. The first of which is the desire to present narratives (Life of Christ and Virgin Mary) for envisaging. The second was the use of non-narrative images to form the focus of devotion.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Title | Scenes from the Life of Christ (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Ivory diptych |
Brief description | Diptych, ivory, Scenes from the Life of Christ, probably France, probably 1350-1375 |
Physical description | Diptych, ivory. Beginning at the lower left corner and reading across both leaves, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation, the Crucifixion, Christ with Mary in the Garden, the Coronation of the Virgin. In two registers each scene surmounted by a double cusped and crocketed arch. Each arcade is formed from four pointed trefoil arches, divided into two compartments by a slender column, which is fully engaged with the ground of the relief. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Bequesthed by Mrs Gilbertson in memory of her husband, Canon Gilbertson |
Object history | In the Collection of Canon Lewis Gilbertson, Rector of St Martin's Church, Ludgate Hill, London, by 1928; bequeathed by Mrs Gilbertson (d. 1940) in memory of her husband, 1940. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This ivory diptych is carved with scenes from the New Testament and made probably in about 1350-1375, probably in France. The scenes start in the lower left corner and can be read across both leaves of the diptych. These represent the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation, the Crucifixion, Christ with Mary in the Garden and the Coronation of the Virgin. The devotional diptych is in many ways the object type most associated with the notion of Gothic ivory carving. The earliest examples probably date to the 1240s; these are complex, large and ambitious works that emerged, somewhat surprisingly, with no obvious precursors. The owners of ivory diptychs sometimes appear within their images. Such portraits indicate that they were special requests on the part of their commissioners, and they parallel the similar figures that appear in manuscripts and panel paintings of the period. The iconography of Gothic diptychs oscillated between two poles. The first of which is the desire to present narratives (Life of Christ and Virgin Mary) for envisaging. The second was the use of non-narrative images to form the focus of devotion. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.18&A-1940 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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