Panel with Scene from the Life of a Saint
Unknown
second half 11th century · Ivory · Medieval Art
On this panel four men hoist what appears to be a palm tree, or possibly a column, over a nude male figure, who lies on the ground and touches the tree trunk. Whether a violent or healing act, the scene may depict an episode from a life of a saint, considering that it was carved in a monastic workshop known for its use of ivory and inventive narrative imagery. Coinciding with the rise of the Christian kingdoms, the eleventh century saw a growing interest in the depiction of saints’ stories, and particularly those of early Spanish martyrs.
- Artist
- Unknown
- Date
- second half 11th century
- Medium
- Ivory
- Culture
- North Spanish
- Department
- Medieval Art
- Credit line
- Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
