Miniature altarpiece (V&A 225-1866)
The Miniature Altarpiece (or Miniature Altarpiece: Anna Selbdritt)[1][2] in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, is a small, 9.3 cm high, Gothic boxwood miniature triptych completed in the Netherlands c. 1500-1520. The central carving is made from boxwood and shows a relief of the Virgin and Child attended by two saints, thought to be Anne, who is shown with wings and holding a large crucifix, and James the Great who wears a hat and holds a staff.[3] The outer semi-circular wings and shell are lined with silver[4] and decorated with foliate designs. It stands on a silver plinth with pierced quatrefoils, and topped by a cherub's head and a statuette of God the Father. It is thought the silver-work was added between 1550-1570.[1]
Two lay figures keel at prayer desks before the saints;[1] presumably there are the object's donors or commissioners.[4] The man is on the viewers left is presented by St. James, the woman is on our right and presented by St. Michael.[1]
The sculpture's dimensions are 89.6 mm × 34.5 mm × 20 mm (3.53 in × 1.36 in × 0.79 in). It has the accession number 225-1866, having been acquired for £14 at the Le Charpentier sale at the Hôtel Drouot on 23 May 1866. There is no record of its provenance before this point. It is not currently on display.[1]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Miniature Altarpiece: Anna Selbdritt". The Boxwood Project, Art Gallery of Ontario. Retrieved 28 October 2019
- ^ The term Anna Selbdritt refers to a type of 14th or 15th century depiction of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne.
- ^ The attendant saints were earlier identified as St. Andrew and St. George.
- ^ a b "Miniature Altarpiece". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 28 October 2019
External links[edit]
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