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Image for Wax Tablet with the Lives of the Virgin and Christ
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Wax Tablet with the Lives of the Virgin and Christ

Flemish (?) (Artist)
4th quarter 14th century (Medieval)
ivory
(Medieval Europe )

Although this wax tablet has scenes divided by colonnettes, its style bears no relationship to that of the so-called group of ivories with colonnettes. The architectral canopy of two trefoil arches over each scene relates it to, among others, the Atelier of the Boxes of the later 14th century. The scenes in the lower register are the Annunciation and Visitation; in the upper: Gethsemane, and Arrest of Christ.

The iconography of the Annunciation is very similar to that of the Atelier of the Boxes. The Annunciation and Visitation are close to the same scenes on a panel from the Kofler Collection, including the arrangement of the headgear of Saint Anne. The Kofler plaque's unusually rich enframement and stylistic features suggest a north French or Flemish attribution.

A large hole is drilled at the top for attachment to the other cover and intervening tablets. There is a depression for wax on the back.

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Arnold Seligmann, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Conservation

Date Description Narrative
2/12/1965 Examination examined for loan
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Geographies

Belgium, Flanders (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H: 4 7/8 x W: 2 15/16 x D: 3/16 in. (12.4 x 7.4 x .5 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1926

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

71.192

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Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

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