Medieval
Medieval Ivories and Works of Art in the Thomson Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario
128 pages, jacketed paperback, 280 x 240 mm, 80 illustrations
PRICE: £25.00
ISBN: 978 1 903470 80 0
FORTHCOMING. AVAILABLE TO BUY IN NOVEMBER 2008.
By John Lowden and John Cherry
The Thomson collection contains examples of the highest quality of most types of medieval ivory carving, both secular and religious. These include large statuettes of the Virgin and Child intended to stand on altars in chapels, small versions for private use in the home and folding tablets or diptychs with scenes from the life of Christ carved in relief. Alongside these are beautiful small carved writing tablets, boxes and caskets, combs, hair parters, mirror cases with scenes of romantic encounters between elegant young men and women, and a rare set of carving and serving knives with fabulous beasts decorating the ivory handles. A highlight of the collection is the magnificent Dormeuil Diptych of the Passion of Christ. Other significant medieval works include examples of stained glass, woodwork and metalwork, notably the 12th-century Malmesbury reliquary casket.
This catalogue accompanies an exhibition at the Groeninge Museum, Bruges, which celebrates one of the greatest European artists of the late fourteenth century, André Beauneveu, apparently born in Valenciennes c. 1335. The full scope of his talent was exploited by the celebrated royal patron Jean de Berry, for whom he produced manuscript illuminations, made designs for stained glass and oversaw the construction of his château at Mehun-sur-Yevre. However, it is primarily his very great skill in the handling of stone which gives Beauneveu such particular significance in the history of late medieval art. More
These works of museum quality, from an anonymous collection (one of the most important currently in private hands), were exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2005. Many of the objects in the catalogue will be well known to those familiar with the specialist literature, even if they were unaware of their whereabouts. More
Medieval art has been collected for at least 200 years, yet there is a perception that if it is not locked away in a monastery it has found its home in a museum long ago. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the richness and variety of what still lies unclaimed by history that makes this material so interesting. More
This is the catalogue to an outstanding collection of Medieval art from a private collection. Ranging from paintings and sculpture to stained glass, manuscripts and caskets, many of the objects presented here are of absolute rarity, some are previously unpublished and - until recently - unknown. More
