Impost Capital with Acanthus Leaf Decoration

Unknown

mid-12th century · Limestone with traces of polychromy · The Cloisters

This capital, and the one to the right with paired birds peeking through acanthus leaves and pecking at its seeds, resemble sculpture in the crypt of the royal abbey of Saint-Denis, north of Paris. As the burial place of French kings, Saint-Denis enjoyed unrivaled prestige; artistic innovations adopted there resonated throughout the region and indeed, throughout France. The choir of the abbey constructed under Abbot Suger is often considered the first example of a new architectural style, known today as Gothic. In the wake of the French Revolution, sculpture and building materials from a number of monuments were sent to Saint-Denis for storage; these pieces may, therefore, come from another church in the area.

Artist

Unknown

Date

mid-12th century

Medium

Limestone with traces of polychromy

Culture

French

Department

The Cloisters

Credit line

The Cloisters Collection, 1983