Inscribed on the reverse “Samuel,” the figure represents one of a series of the twenty-four elders of the Apocalypse, described by Saint John in the Book of Revelation, perhaps from an altar frontal centering on Christ. The geometric form of the drapery and the delicate openwork carving technique add to this figure’s masterly quality.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Figure of Samuel
Date:ca. 1075–1100
Geography:Made in Saint-Omer, France
Culture:North French
Medium:Walrus Ivory
Dimensions:Overall: 4 3/8 x 1 7/8 x 11/16 in. (11.1 x 4.7 x 1.7 cm)
Classification:Ivories-Walrus
Credit Line:Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number:17.190.220
Georges Hoentschel (French); J. Pierpont Morgan (American), London and New York
Cleveland Museum of Art. "Treasures from Medieval France," Novemer 16, 1966–January 29, 1967.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "The Middle Ages: Treasures from The Cloisters and The Metropolitan Museum of Art," January 18, 1970–March 29, 1970.
Chicago. Art Institute of Chicago. "The Middle Ages: Treasures from The Cloisters and The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 16, 1970–July 5, 1970.
Paris. Musée du Louvre. "La France romane au temps des premiers Capétiens, 987–1152," March 10, 2005–June 6, 2005.
Pératé, André. Collections Georges Hoentschel: Ivoires, orfèvrerie religieuse, pierres. Vol. 2. Paris: Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts, 1911. no. 16, fig. XIV.
Goldschmidt, Adolph. Die Elfenbeinskulpturen aus der romanischen Zeit, XI.-XIII. Jahrhundert. Vol. 4. Berlin: Bruno Cassirer, 1926. no. 37, p. 16, pl. XI.
Breck, Joseph, and Meyric R. Rogers. The Pierpont Morgan Wing: A Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1929. p. 50, fig. 27, ill. p. 51.
Grodecki, Louis. Ivoires français. Arts, styles et techniques. Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1947. p. 59.
Steenbock, Frauke. Der kirchliche Prachteinband im frühen Mittelalter: von den Anfängen bis zum Beginn der Gotik. Deutscher Verlag für Kunstwissenshcaft, 1965. p. 156.
Wixom, William D. Treasures from Medieval France. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1967. no. II–3, pp. 26–27, 348.
Ostoia, Vera K. The Middle Ages: Treasures from the Cloisters and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1969. no. 42, pp. 94–95, 255.
Legner, Anton, ed. Rhein und Maas: Kunst und Kultur 800–1400. Volume 1, Der Katalog. Cologne: Museum Schnütgen, 1972. p. 285.
Swarzenski, Hanns. "Comments on the Figural Illustrations." Liber Floridus Colloquium: Papers Read at the International Meeting Held in the University Library. Ghent, on 3–5 September 1967 (1973). p. 22, fig. 23.
Gaborit-Chopin, Danielle. Ivoires du Moyen Age. Fribourg: Office du Livre, 1978. no. 145, pp. 104, 198.
Avril, François, Xavier Barral I Altet, and Danielle Gaborit-Chopin. Le Monde Roman, 1060-1220: Volume 2, Les Royaumes d'Occident. L'Univers des formes, Vol. 30. Paris: Gallimard, 1983. p. 297.
Gaborit-Chopin, Danielle, ed. La France romane au temps des premiers Capétiens (987-1152). Paris: Musée du Louvre Editions, 2005. no. 232d, pp. 306–7.
Gaborit-Chopin, Danielle. "Les noms des quarte Vieillards de l'Apocalypse de Saint-Omer." In Le plaisir de l'art du Moyen Âge: Commande, production et réception de l'oeuvre d'art. Paris: A. Picard et Fils, 2012. pp. 753–58, fig. 1d.
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