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Lot Essay
The design for the cover is based upon the painting entitled Saint Eligius by Christus, of 1449, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Robert Lehman Collection (1975.I.II0)
Eligius was born in Limousin at the end of the 6th century. His first occupation was that of a goldsmith who was particularily skilled at creating reliquaries. His talent was so great that he was brought to the court of the Merovingian kings where he rose to the role of treasurer, and later chief counselor, and was entrusted with both diplomatic and governmental missions. Eligius joined the priesthood in 639 and later became Bishop of Noyon where he devoted himself to the poor and freed slaves. Today he is honored as the patron saint of goldsmiths. (G. Duchet-Suchaux and M. Pastoureau, The Bible and the Saints, pp. 132-33)
Eligius was born in Limousin at the end of the 6th century. His first occupation was that of a goldsmith who was particularily skilled at creating reliquaries. His talent was so great that he was brought to the court of the Merovingian kings where he rose to the role of treasurer, and later chief counselor, and was entrusted with both diplomatic and governmental missions. Eligius joined the priesthood in 639 and later became Bishop of Noyon where he devoted himself to the poor and freed slaves. Today he is honored as the patron saint of goldsmiths. (G. Duchet-Suchaux and M. Pastoureau, The Bible and the Saints, pp. 132-33)