Creative Commons License
Christ in Majesty
(Medieval Europe )
The panel shows Christ in Majesty, seated on the throne, holding the Gospels, and making the gesture of teaching with his right hand. On the background of his mandorla is inscribed: EGO S(UM) (I)S Q(U)I S(U)M (I am that I am, Exodus 3:14). At the corners are the symbols of the four Evangelists: top, the Man of Matthew and the Eagle of John; bottom, the Lion of Mark and the Ox of Luke.
Many examples of the type in ivory, metalwork, and enamel descend from models like the ivory book cover of Abbot Notger, datable to about 982. The ivory is closely paralleled by the silver book cover of the Evangelary of Anastasia in Warsaw of Mosan origin and datable to the 3rd quarter of the 12th century, made in the region of Liege.
The panel was intended for a book cover, but was reused, as the three holes indicate. It is considerably rubbed from use, and shows evidence of brown stain.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Léon Gruel, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1928, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Belgium, Valley of the Meuse (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 5 1/2 x W: 3 1/8 in. (14 x 8 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1928
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.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
71.220