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Elder of the Apocalypse

ca. 1100
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 304
This figure can be identified as one of twenty-four elders who surround God’s throne in the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation). The text specifies that they hold harps, but medieval images portray them with a variety of musical instruments, here a viol. Elders never appear as single figures, so this roundel must have been part of a larger, imposing work of art, perhaps an altar, created for the abbey of Conques under Abbot Bégon III (r. 1087–1107).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Elder of the Apocalypse
  • Date: ca. 1100
  • Geography: Made in Conques, France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Copper: gilt; champlevé & cloisonné enamel: black, medium and lavender blue, turquoise, almond green, white and pinkish white
  • Dimensions: Overall: 3 1/16 x 1/8 in. (7.7 x 0.3 cm)
  • Classification: Enamels-Champlevé & Cloisonné
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Lauder, 1983
  • Object Number: 1983.38
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist Luke, Copper: cut and gilt; champlevé and cloisonné enamel: black, lapis and lavender blue, turquoise, green, red, white, pinkish white, semi-translucent wine red., French
Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist Luke
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Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist John, Copper: cut and gilt; champlevé and cloisonné enamel: black, lapis and lavender blue, turquoise, green, red, white, pinkish white., French
Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist John
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Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist Mark, Copper: cut and gilt; champlevé and cloisonné enamel: black, lapis and lavender blue, turquoise, green, red, white, pinkish white., French
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Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist Matthew, Copper: cut and gilt; champlevé and cloisonné enamel: black, lapis and lavender blue, turquoise, green, red, white, pinkish white., French
Plaque with the Symbol of the Evangelist Matthew
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The Crucifixion, Gilded copper, cloisonné and champlevé enamel, French
The Crucifixion
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ca. 1100

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