Louvre is petitioning to complement a unique Gothic Ivory Group…
The tiny delicate figures are breath-taking seen close up. In the centre Joseph of Arimathea carries the dead Christ on his shoulders. Standing close by Mary kisses the hand of her dead son, while the allegorical figure of the church stands a little to the left with her chalice in hand, cross broken off. To the right kneels Nicodemus holding a scroll, though curators believe he was originally handling the nails. Measuring no more than 23 x 24 x 30 cm and carved around 1250 – 60 the tiny tableau of the descent from the cross must have been created to embellish an altar in a private chapel. Probably it was part of the decoration of the altar Good Friday after the sixth hour, when all crosses were supposed to be unveiled. The ivory is extremely delicate and carries remains of polychromy and gilding.
The group, which entered the collections of Louvre in 1896, is one of very few preserved in museums worldwide. However, until now it has not been quite complete. Originally it was balanced by two additional figures: John looking on the scene, and a blindfolded allegorical figure of the synagogue weeping while holding the tables in her left hand and a broken spear in the other. She is symmetrically positioned to balance Ecclesia on the left side.
Recently these two figures were discovered in a private collection and labelled as National Treasure. Recently Louvre launched a subscription to acquire the two missing statuettes. The price is €2.6 million, of which Louvre and the Axa Art foundation has secured €1.8. However Louvre still lacks €800.000 and all patrons and art lovers are invited to help out. So far 41% are in the coffers. The petition runs out on the 31st of January 2013.
List of literature about this particular group at “Gothic Ivories”
Ivory carving in the Gothic Era, 13th _15th century
Photos:
Réunion des musees nationaux et Grand Palais. Coronation of the Virgin 1250-1260. © RMN-Grand Palais (Louvre) / Jean-Gilles Berizzi
