Together with the statue of Apollo nearby, this was one of a series of thirteen sculptures representing ancient Roman gods and nymphs associated with nature. Zephyr was thegod of the west wind, redolent of springtime and flowers. He is identified by the blowing cherub by his foot.
Don García, a knight of the Order of Santiago, was buried in the church of San Pedro in Toledo. Though he wears chain mail and armour, his helmet has been removed and placed at his feet, with a symbolic figure of mourning. His wife’s effigy nearby has a similar figure at her feet.
「SIGNS AND SYMBOLS The cross on the left breast of Don García de Osorio’s cloak shows that he belonged to the Order of Santiago, a combined military and religious order dedicated toSt James and founded in the 12th century. The lowest arm of the cross resembles a sword blade and reflects the dual nature of the Order.」
A Venetian scuola, or confraternity, commissioned this sculpture to sit over the entrance to their meeting house. Members of the confraternity shelter under the Virgin's cloak. Surrounding the Virgin are prophets seated in the Tree of Jesse. They hold scrolls announcing the Coming of Christ, who is shown as a baby on the Virgin's breast. The pointed arch reflects the Gothic style of the original setting. Bartolomeo Bon was a member of the confraternity and one of the most importantsculptors in Renaissance Venice.
Italy, Venice
Moved and altered 1618 and 1828–30
Istrian stone with traces of paint
From the Scuola Vecchia di Santa Maria della Misericordia
Museum no. 25-1883
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
The mandorla (from the Italian word for ‘almond’) was a type of halo that enclosed the entire body. It was usually used to depict moments that transcended time and space, such as Christ enthroned in Heaven in majesty. Here the mandorla forms a morse, or brooch, to clasp the Virgin's cloak.」
Rupert Potsch (active 1480–1530) and Philipp Diemer (active 1496–1515)
The Virgin Mary sits in the centre, flanked by St Florian and St John the Baptist. The lower section was a cupboard for relics. Its two central panels, showing St Dorothyand St Catherine of Alexandria, are hinged and served as doors. A smaller door waslatercut into the panel on the extreme right, perhaps to provide storage for additional relics.
Italy, Brixen/Bressanone
Limewood and pine, painted and gilded
Possibly from the church of San Floriano, Forno di Zoldo (Belluno)
Museum no. 192-1866
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
The bearded figure on the right is St John the Baptist. He holds a lamb, known in Latinas the agnus dei, or ‘lamb of God’. In ancient rites the lamb was often offered as a sacrifice. It later became a symbol for Jesus because Christians believed thathe sacrificed himself on the cross.」
This imposing altarpiece tells the story of St Margaret, who was martyred for refusing to renounce Christianity. It was common practice for many craftsmen to work together on such large altarpieces. The style of the elongated heads in the two lower rightpanels, so different from the others, suggests that they were made by a different artist.
The central scene shows the Virgin presenting the Christ Child to her mother, St Anne. The altarpiece probably comes from the church of the Carmelites (an order of friars)in Boppard, near Koblenz. The presence of St Anne suggests that it might have been given by the local St Anne brotherhood, a lay organisation devoted to good works.
The life of the Virgin was a popular subject for altarpieces. Here, the central image shows her death and assumption into Heaven. The crouching figure below represents the vanquished figure of Synagogue, a symbol for what Christians then believed to betheir triumph over Judaism. Altarpieces like this were commonly produced in Brussels, either to commission or ready made.
「The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery」(イタリア・ルネサンス彫刻ギャラリー)に 展示されている大理石の祭壇(アルターピース)。
「ALTARPIECE WITH THE CRUCIFIXION FLANKED BY SAINTS
About 1493
Andrea Ferrucci (1465 – after 1526)
Tita di Roberto Salviati commissioned this altarpiece to sit above the tomb she had built for herself and her husband, Girolamo Martini. The families’ coats of arms can be seen in the bottom corners, while the presence of St Jerome (Girolamo in Italian) on the left commemorates both her husband and the church’s dedication to the saint.
The arms on the lower panel show that the wealthy Albizzi family commissionedthis altarpiece. The exotic headgear worn by the kings’ followers(including an African man) signifies that they were from the East. The bright colours of the altarpiece demonstrate the skill of the della Robbia in producingtin-glazed terracotta.
Unable to create flesh tones in glazes, the artist left the heads and hands of the twosaints unglazed for a natural effect. Each saint is easily identifiable by his attributes. St Anthony Abbot has a pig at his feet, while St Stephen holds his martyr’s palm and has stones attached to his head and shoulder.
Italy, Tuscany
Tin-glazed terracotta
Museum nos. 4413, 4414-1857
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
St Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was a deacon, meaning that he helped the poorer members of the congregation. Here, however, he is shown in the robes of a medieval deacon, who would have assisted priests during the Mass. He is alsorecognisable by the stones on his head and shoulder, reminding believers that he was stoned to death.」
「Screen from Ávila Cathedral(1520–30, Spain, Ávila)」この鉄製スクリーンは、 アビラ大聖堂(スペイン、カスティーリャ地方) の広大な柵の一部。
材質:鉄(Iron)
年代:1520–30年頃
製作工房:ロレンソ・デ・アビラ(Lorenzo de Ávila, 1525年頃活動)工房と考えられる。
構造:細長いバラスター(balusters, 欄干の支柱)が連続して並ぶデザイン。
装飾:上部には装飾帯(鉄の透かし模様)、下部は石の基壇。
用途:大聖堂内で祭壇や私的礼拝堂を保護・仕切るためのスクリーン。
「SCREEN FROM AVILA CATHEDRAL
1520–30
Probably by the workshop of Lorenzo de Avila (active 1525)
Screens were used to protect altars and private chapels. They were common in churches across Europe. This portion of the vast screen from Avila Cathedralconsists of balusters, in a style favoured by the local ironwork specialist,Lorenzo de Avila, and his workshop. In earlier Spanish screens twisted bars were more common.
「Tapestry with St Antoninus」(1450–1500年頃) ・描かれているのは聖アントニヌス(St Antoninus, 1389–1459) ・1446–1459年までフィレンツェ大司教を務めた人物。 ・ドミニコ会士であったため、黒と白の修道服(habit of the Dominican order)を着用。 ・司教冠(miter)をかぶり、司教杖(crosier)を持ち、右手は祝福の姿勢。
・周囲
・両側に花模様の装飾帯。ルネサンス期やゴシック後期に多い意匠。
・足元には植物文様が細かく刺繍されている。
「TAPESTRY WITH ST ANTONINUS
1450–1500
Inscriptions on the borders identify St Antoninus, Archbishop of Florence from 1446 to 1459. He wears the black and white habit of the Dominican order, of which he was a member, and a bishop’s mitre. He also carries a bishop’s crosier and his right hand is raised in blessing.