Because it was thought they represented the ancient rulers of France, all of the monumental kings decorating the portals of the famed Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Paris were decapitated and presumably destroyed during the French Revolution. Until recently, this head of King David was the only known surviving head from this rich decorative program. Carved of a fine-grained limestone from the Paris region, the highly expressive face was originally more emphatic, as the eyes were inlaid with lead. The head comes from the right-hand portal of the west façade dedicated to themes of the life of Saint Anne and to the genealogy and early life of Jesus. David was regarded as an ancestor of Jesus. Carved about the middle of the twelfth century, the portal was not installed until the early years of the thirteenth century.
From the Saint Anne Portal, Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Paris (ca. 1180–ca. 1793 (?)).; possibly Dr. Lecorché, France (?); [ Lucien J. Demotte, Paris and New York (through Manuel Cobo, by 1930–sold 1937)]; [ C. Joret, Paris (1937)]; [ Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc., New York (1937–sold 1938)]
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Artist: Jean de Liège (Franco-Netherlandish, active ca. 1361–died 1381)Date: ca. 1381Medium: Marble with lead inlaysAccession: 41.100.132On view in:Gallery 305
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