Book Cover Plaque with Christ in Majesty and the Symbols of the Four Evangelists

Date:
11th century
Culture:
German
Medium:
Ivory
Dimensions:
Overall: 6 1/4 x 2 15/16 x 1/2 in. (15.9 x 7.5 x 1.2 cm)
Classification:
Ivories
Credit Line:
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number:
17.190.35
  • Description

    Here the symbols of the four evangelists—the eagle (Saint John), the angel (Saint Matthew), the ox (Saint Luke), and the lion (Saint Mark)—hold an open book containing the first words of each Gospel. The beardless, youthful figure of Christ in the center is rare in depictions from this date.

  • Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

    Inscription: Inscription: IN/PRI/NCI/PIO/ERA/T V(ERBUM) John I:1; LIB(ER)/GE/NE/RA(TIONIS) Matthew I:1, EC/CE/EGO/MIT(TO) Mark I:1; FV/IT/IN/DI(EBVS) Luke I:5.

  • Provenance

    [ Frédéric Spitzer (d. 1890), Paris (sold 1893)]; J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York (until 1913); Estate of J. Pierpont Morgan(1913–1917)

170004202

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