|
Date: |
|
Description: | Fragment of a Medieval stone sculpture of an unidentified secular figure probably dating to c.AD 1320-1450. The fragment consists of the upper torso and shows the figure with their right arm bent forward at the elbow and lost and wearing a tunic and mantle. Traces of red paint colour survive on the mantle. The tunic has a fairly deeply indented trapezoid neckline and is quite full with folds running down the body and is possibly a green-brown colour, darker than the skin above. The mantle is draped over the shoulders and across the body in wide diagonal folds at the waist. Above the waist it appears that the mantle or a sash is folded at the top of the stomach with tight horizontal folds below, ending at the wider folds of the outerside of the mantle. This might represent the inner side of the folded mantle or seperate cloth, there are traces of red on it, suggesting the former. It is oval in cross section with a concave back, the back and sides are plain with some working marks, suggesting it was designed to sit in a niche with the back not visible. The scale suggests that the whole piece was upwards of 60 cm high, so half to a third life-size. The stone appears to be oolitic therefore, probably Bath stone.A photograph has been examined by Dr. Jerry Sampson who helped with the above identification and further commented:It's the upper torso of a medieval secular figure wearing tunic and mantle, with both arms broken, so any identifying attribute is gone. The tunic appears to have a fairly deep neckline, suggesting it was male. The folds of the mantle are a bit unusual, with a plain horizontal hem line at the upper edge; the wide folds above the lower break could suggest a fourteenth century date, though there is little evidence for the characteristic sway of the pose usually associated with carvings of the first half of that century. There is plenty of red, though from the photos this appears to be restricted to the mantle, suggesting that it is the body colour rather than an under paint (red ground is found on the ?later C!5 angels on the west front and elsewhere). [It appears] the stone is oolitic - therefore, probably Bath stone, which would also suggest a date after say, 1320, and more probably later. Bath disappears (as far as we can tell) from Wells / Glastonbury at or shortly after the Norman conquest and reappears in the tomb of Bishop Drokensford and the Bishops throne (c.1337) at the cathedral. The Bubwith chantry (c.1424) is made from it as are the sculptures on the Bishops Eye gate (1451) and elsewhere.The scale suggests that the whole piece was upwards of 60 cm high, so half to a third life-size - this would make it small for the cathedral reredos (a known source of broken ?Bath stone sculpture in the cathedral environs in the early C19).
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
|
More Like this...
-
SCULPTURE
Stone sculpture; sandstone head. Orange-yellow…
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sculpture
A Medieval stone (sandstone) decorative…
-
SCULPTURE
A Medieval stone (sandstone) decorative…
|