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Lot Essay
The widespread availability of ivory in Europe in the gothic era coincided with a growing desire for objects of personal devotion. The result is a huge number of extant works of art from the 13th and 14th centuries, among which ivory diptychs were perhaps the most popular form. Most of these were executed on a relatively small scale but for the wealthiest patrons large pieces of ivory allowed works such as the present lot to be conceived on a grand scale.
Although the cult of the Virgin was probably at its apogee in this era, ivory diptychs more often represent scenes from the life of Christ. The diptych offered here has six panels - comprising eight scenes - arranged chronologically on the left from top to bottom and continuing on the right from bottom to top. They represent: the Virgin being warned of her imminent death by an angel who presents her with a palm frond, the Virgin talking among other figures, and praying on the Mount of Olives; the Virgin taking leave of the apostles; the death of the Virgin; the funeral of the Virgin; the Virgin's body being transported to heaven with music-making angels below; the coronation of the Virgin.
Iconographically, the diptych is related to a small number of other known examples dedicated to the Virgin (for a selection see Koechlin, locs. cit.). Compositionally, it follows extremely closely a slightly earlier diptych that was formerly in the Kofler-Truniger collection in Luzerne (Schnitzler et al, loc. cit.). The order of the scenes is the same, and the arrangement of the figures is identical apart from a few variations such as the substitution of the kneeling figure of the angel with a palm frond in the first scene for the kneeling figure of St. John in the Kofler-Truniger example. Stylistically, the present diptych is set within a more elaborate architectural setting with each scene surmounted by four crocketed gothic arches. The beautifully executed old ivory restorations to the areas where the hinges were formerly attached is evidence of the high esteem in which the present lot has long been held.
Although the cult of the Virgin was probably at its apogee in this era, ivory diptychs more often represent scenes from the life of Christ. The diptych offered here has six panels - comprising eight scenes - arranged chronologically on the left from top to bottom and continuing on the right from bottom to top. They represent: the Virgin being warned of her imminent death by an angel who presents her with a palm frond, the Virgin talking among other figures, and praying on the Mount of Olives; the Virgin taking leave of the apostles; the death of the Virgin; the funeral of the Virgin; the Virgin's body being transported to heaven with music-making angels below; the coronation of the Virgin.
Iconographically, the diptych is related to a small number of other known examples dedicated to the Virgin (for a selection see Koechlin, locs. cit.). Compositionally, it follows extremely closely a slightly earlier diptych that was formerly in the Kofler-Truniger collection in Luzerne (Schnitzler et al, loc. cit.). The order of the scenes is the same, and the arrangement of the figures is identical apart from a few variations such as the substitution of the kneeling figure of the angel with a palm frond in the first scene for the kneeling figure of St. John in the Kofler-Truniger example. Stylistically, the present diptych is set within a more elaborate architectural setting with each scene surmounted by four crocketed gothic arches. The beautifully executed old ivory restorations to the areas where the hinges were formerly attached is evidence of the high esteem in which the present lot has long been held.