Highlights
-
-
- CollectionSculpture and Furniture (XIII - XIX centuries)
- Research projectsIvoren
- Inventory number1474
- TitleDiptych of Genoels-Elderen
- CreatorAuthor unknown
- Dateca. AD 701 - AD 800
- DimensionsH x La x P: 30 cm, 18 cm
- OwnerMusées royaux d'art et d'histoire / Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis
- Order photographs
Object nameDiptychGeographyPlace of production:Mosane region (general region)Geographical Reference > Europe > Western Europe
Place of production (historical):Köln, ProbablyGeographical Reference > Europe > Central Europe > Germany > Nordrhein-Westfalen (state) > Köln (district)MaterialIvoryMaterial > Animal > Tooth > Mammal toothTechniqueBas-relief (sculpture)Technique > General techniques > Sculpture
- Description
- More images
-
This diptych is an exceptional example of early Carolingian art. In contrast to works from Late Antiquity, the realization of the scenes is flatter. Although the interlace ornaments are decorative motifs often found on the British Isles, the frontal depiction of Christ is reminiscent of Byzantine art. On the left plate, the triumphant Christ crushes evil, symbolized by demonic animals. The other plate represents at the top of the Annunciation of the birth of Christ to Mary by the archangel Gabriel.
Below we see Mary's visit to her cousin Elisabeth (Visitation).
Several mounting holes suggest that both plates were originally nailed to a wooden surface, possibly from a book cover.