Carved ivory plaque: a seated man surrounded by figures above a cross between two angels. Front view.

Ivory plate from Trebizond, Cl. 23898 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Detail of a carved ivory plaque: a man surrounded by figures. Front view.

Ivory plate from Trebizond, Cl. 23898 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Detail of a carved ivory plaque: a cross between two angels in profile. Front view.

Ivory plate from Trebizond, Cl. 23898 (detail) © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Ivory plate from Trebizond

Christ in Majesty known as the "Trebizond Christ" (Christ between Saint Peter, Saint Paul and two angels)

Description

On display - room 2

6th century

Early Middle Ages

This ivory is a plate of a diptych page. The main panel depicts Christ enthroned between the apostles Peter and Paul.The iconography and style of this work seem to indicate a provenance from Constantinople.

In the lower register, on a smaller scale, two angels are either side of a cross. The joining traces indicate that this was the central element of a large page Byzantine imperial style, similar to the so-called Barberini page (Louvre Museum).

The clean-shaven face of Christ suggests a classical period and is reminiscent of the representations of consuls on contemporary diptychs.

These iconographic features and the rather monumental style of the composition suggest that it was created by an artist working in Constantinople at a time when Christian art was establishing its place within official art.

A work of major cultural heritage significance acquired in 2014 by the State for the Musée de Cluny thanks to the patronage of La Banque de France.
 

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