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Keystone with Scene of the Annunciation
late 1400s13 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 3 3/8 in. (34.8 x 36 x 8.5 cm)
French or German artist
France
French or German; made on the Upper Rhine
Object Type:
Sculpture
Medium and Support:
Red sandstone
Credit Line:
R. T. Miller Fund
Accession Number:
1949.70
Location: Currently on view
In Christian tradition, the scene of the Annunciation depicts the moment of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive a child and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Here, the Virgin kneels before a large open book on a reading pulpit. The winged Gabriel faces her, kneeling on the other side of the pulpit. The hand of God emerges from the frame at the top, directing a dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, toward the Virgin’s head.
This sculpture was originally an architectural keystone, the central stone of an arch that locks its parts together. The structure of the back of the piece indicates that it probably came from the center of a square vault with four ribs. Its small size and the high level of detail in the carving suggest that it was installed close to the viewer where it could be easily seen, perhaps in a bay of a cloister walk or in a small porch.
[Gallery label text, June 2013]
This sculpture was originally an architectural keystone, the central stone of an arch that locks its parts together. The structure of the back of the piece indicates that it probably came from the center of a square vault with four ribs. Its small size and the high level of detail in the carving suggest that it was installed close to the viewer where it could be easily seen, perhaps in a bay of a cloister walk or in a small porch.
[Gallery label text, June 2013]
Provenance
Joseph Brummer, New York (dealer); his sale, part III, Parke Bernet Galleries, New York, June 8-9, 1949, lot 468; purchased at that sale by the Gallery
Keywords
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Additional Images
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Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
- Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection Memorial Art Gallery 9/30/1949 - 10/30/1949
- An Animal Hunt in Art 4/7/1951 - 4/29/1951
- Visions of Angels Memorial Art Gallery 10/29/1999 - 1/23/2000
- Stone objects (case in Folk Arts) 7/30/2008 - 3/16/2009
Bibliography
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Article Scope: Reproduction only. Susan Dodge Peters, ed. Memorial Art Gallery: An Introduction to the Collection. New York, New York: Memorial Art Gallery in association with Hudson Hills Press, 1988.
- Article Scope: Reproduction only. Rochester Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester Handbook. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1961.
- Article Author: Walsh, David A.. Article Title: A Late Medieval Sculpture of the Annunciation. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Porticus. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery Volume Number: 7 Issue Date: 1984. Page Number: 8-15
- Article Scope: Mention. Elizabeth Brayer. Magnum Opus: The Story of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1913-1988. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.
- Article Scope: Entry. Classical and Medieval Stone Sculptures including Pieces Suitable for Garden and Patio, Furniture and Works of Art, Part III of the Joseph Brummer Collection. New York, NY: Parke-Bernet Galleries, 6/8/1949-6/9/1949.
- Article Author: Holladay, Joan A. and Nancy Norwood. Article Scope: Discussion and reproduction. Joan A. Holladay and Susan L. Ward. Gothic Sculpture in America. New York, NY: International Center of Medieval Art, 1989. Volume Number: 3 Page Number: 164-165, Figure Number: 95
Portfolio List
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