Diptych with Mary and Her Son Flanked by Archangels, Apostles and a Saint
(Ethiopia)
The Christ Child touches his mother's chin with a gesture of affection that was probably inspired by 15th-century Italian paintings then greatly admired at the Ethiopian royal court. Victorious saints on horseback had great appeal for the upper classes of Ethiopia, where noblemen were trained in horsemanship and combat. The artist is most likely a follower of Fre Seyon, the celebrated 15th-century painter who left only one signed work.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
AXIA ART Ltd., London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Washington, D.C., October 1992, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2001, by purchase.
Exhibitions
2006-2007 | Angels of Light: Ethiopian Art from the Walters Art Museum. Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton; Museum of Biblical Art, New York. |
1996 | Ethiopian Art at The Walters. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Ethiopia, Tegray
(Place of Origin)
Ethiopia (Kid-Friendly)
Measurements
Left panel H: 10 × W: 7 1/2 × D: 3/4 in. (25.4 × 19.05 × 1.91 cm); Right panel H: 10 × W: 7 1/2 × D: 3/4 in. (25.4 × 19.05 × 1.91 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, the W. Alton Jones Foundation Acquisition Fund, 2001, from the Nancy and Robert Nooter Collection
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.
36.12