The Harbaville Triptych is a Byzantineivorytriptych of the middle of the 10th century with a Deesis and other saints, now in the Louvre. Traces of colouring can still be seen on some figures. It is regarded as the finest, and best-preserved, of the "Romanos group" of ivories from a workshop in Constantinople, probably closely connected with the Imperial Court.
Of this "Romanos group" the Harbaville Triptych is considered "by far the finest, for it shows an elegance and delicacy which are absent in the others. All are in the polished, elegant style typical of the Court school."[2] Other groups of ivories have also been identified, presumably representing the output of different workshops, perhaps also employed by the Court, but generally of lower quality, or at least refinement.[3] Since much greater numbers of ivories survive than panel paintings from the period, they are very important for the history of Macedonian art.
All sides of the triptych are fully carved, with more saints on the outsides of the side leaves, and an elaborate decorative scheme on the back of the central leaf.
The ivory's early history is unrecorded. It derives its name from its first known owner, the antiquarian Louis-François Harbaville (1791-1866), who inherited it from his in-laws, the Beugny de Pommeras family of Arras. It was purchased for the Louvre in 1891 from Harbaville's grandsons and heirs.
^Originally by Goldschmidt and Kurt Weitzmann, Die byzantinischen Elfenbeinskulpturen des X.-XIII. Jahrhunderts, Band 2, Berlin, 1934
Further reading
Evans, Helen C. & Wixom, William D., The glory of Byzantium: art and culture of the Middle Byzantine era, A.D. 843-1261, no. 80, 1997, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, ISBN9780810965072; full text available online from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries
Le Triptyque Byzantin de la Collection Harbaville, on Academia (in french)
Verso of middle leaf: representing the triumphal cross in Paradise, with two trees of life and the inscription "Iesou Christos nika" ("Jesus Christ conquers")
The Romanos and Eudoxia plaque, BnF Paris, from which this group of ivories takes its name.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harbaville Triptych.
March 22, 2023
harbaville, triptych, byzantine, ivory, triptych, middle, 10th, century, with, deesis, other, saints, louvre, traces, colouring, still, seen, some, figures, regarded, finest, best, preserved, romanos, group, ivories, from, workshop, constantinople, probably, c. The Harbaville Triptych is a Byzantine ivory triptych of the middle of the 10th century with a Deesis and other saints now in the Louvre Traces of colouring can still be seen on some figures It is regarded as the finest and best preserved of the Romanos group of ivories from a workshop in Constantinople probably closely connected with the Imperial Court Middle leaf top panel Deesis Christ Mary and John the Baptist Recto full view 28 x 24 cm The group takes its name from the Romanos and Eudokia ivory plaque in the Cabinet des Medailles of the Bibliotheque nationale de France Paris showing Christ crowning an Emperor named as Romanos and his Empress This is thought to be either Romanos II crowned in 959 or possibly Romanos IV crowned in 1068 Related works are in Rome the Vatican and Moscow this last another coronation probably datable to 944 1 Of this Romanos group the Harbaville Triptych is considered by far the finest for it shows an elegance and delicacy which are absent in the others All are in the polished elegant style typical of the Court school 2 Other groups of ivories have also been identified presumably representing the output of different workshops perhaps also employed by the Court but generally of lower quality or at least refinement 3 Since much greater numbers of ivories survive than panel paintings from the period they are very important for the history of Macedonian art All sides of the triptych are fully carved with more saints on the outsides of the side leaves and an elaborate decorative scheme on the back of the central leaf The ivory s early history is unrecorded It derives its name from its first known owner the antiquarian Louis Francois Harbaville 1791 1866 who inherited it from his in laws the Beugny de Pommeras family of Arras It was purchased for the Louvre in 1891 from Harbaville s grandsons and heirs References Edit David Talbot Rice Byzantine Art 3rd edn 1968 Penguin Books Ltd pp 442 8 Talbot Rice op cit p 446 Originally by Goldschmidt and Kurt Weitzmann Die byzantinischen Elfenbeinskulpturen des X XIII Jahrhunderts Band 2 Berlin 1934Further reading EditEvans Helen C amp Wixom William D The glory of Byzantium art and culture of the Middle Byzantine era A D 843 1261 no 80 1997 The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York ISBN 9780810965072 full text available online from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries Le Triptyque Byzantin de la Collection Harbaville on Academia in french Gallery Edit Left leaf top panel Saint Theodore the Recruit Saint Theodore the General Left leaf bottom panel St Eustratius and St Arethas In the roundels Saint Mercurius and St Thomas the Apostle Middle leaf bottom panel Apostles James John Peter Paul and Andrew Right leaf top panel Saint George and Saint Eustace Right leaf bottom panel Saint Demetrius and Saint Procopius In the roundels St Philip the Apostle and Saint Pantaleimon Verso full view Verso of middle leaf representing the triumphal cross in Paradise with two trees of life and the inscription Iesou Christos nika Jesus Christ conquers The Romanos and Eudoxia plaque BnF Paris from which this group of ivories takes its name Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harbaville Triptych Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harbaville Triptych amp oldid 1108825777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
