CIRCA LATE 4TH-5TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A BYZANTINE MARBLE RELIEF
Circa Late 4th-5th Century A.D.
From a semi-circular table bordered by a frieze, the central portion of the table sunken, the preserved panel depicting Noah bearded, emerging from his chest-like ark to meet the dove which has returned with an olive leaf in its mouth, a tree to the left, a bead-and-reel molding along the rim
11 1/8 in. (28.3 cm) long

Provenance

Mikalidies Collection

Lot Essay

This relief depicts Genesis 8:11 from the story of Noah in the Old Testament. Noah was a favored subject in Early Christian iconography as an allegory for rebirth and resurrection, a foreshadowing of Christ. For a panel from a related table depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac see no. 380, p. 423 in Weitzmann, ed., Age of Spirituality, Late Antique and Early Christian Art, Third to Seventh Century.

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