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Deacon Holding a Book
(Renaissance Europe )
This deacon (identified by his collar and tunic), from the order of clergy just below the priest, holds an open Gospel book, from which he would have read aloud during mass. The statue may represent the deacon Eleutherius, companion of St. Denis; they were martyred together near Paris about 275.
We cannot make out the shape of his body under the heavy cloth-as one might in an Italian statue-but the swaying lines of the folds and the tilt of the man's head indicate that his weight is on his left leg, a graceful, natural stance. This is complemented by realistic details such as his bare toes. Originally the statue was painted, enhancing the naturalistic impression.
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.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1984-1985 | Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1958 | Religious Art of the Western World. Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Report | other | |
| 12/13/1957 | Treatment | cleaned; repaired; loss compensation |
| 6/14/1966 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 6/23/1971 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 11/14/1984 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 4/26/1990 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 5/17/1993 | Treatment | other |
Geographies
France (Place of Origin)
Measurements
29 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 7 11/16 in. (75 x 26 x 19.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Centre Street: Third Floor: 15th-Century Art of Northern Europe
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.
27.437