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Console with Doubting Thomas
early 13th century24 x 17 11/16 x 18 1/2 in. (61 x 45 x 47 cm)
Unknown, French
French
Object Type:
Sculpture
Medium and Support:
Limestone, polychromy
Credit Line:
R. T. Miller Fund
Accession Number:
1949.76
Location: Currently on view
This early Gothic console originally supported a vaulting rib in the sacristy of the small French church of St. Martin-de-Candes. The sculpture, which retains much of its original coloring, illustrates the story of Doubting Thomas, an episode described in the New Testament gospel book of John. The apostle Thomas refused to accept that Christ had appeared to his other followers after the Resurrection, saying “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Christ appeared to them again one week later and told Thomas “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
The sculptor has utilized the architectural form of the console to depict this story. On the left, Thomas, his head now broken, places his finger in Christ’s wound; Mary Magdalen, to whom Christ also appeared after the Resurrection, stands behind him. The apostle on the other side of Christ is Saint Peter, who holds the key to heaven. The remaining figures are apostles who serve as witnesses to the miracle. The figure of Christ originally carried a cross-staff, symbolizing his victory over death.
[Gallery label text, June 2013]
The sculptor has utilized the architectural form of the console to depict this story. On the left, Thomas, his head now broken, places his finger in Christ’s wound; Mary Magdalen, to whom Christ also appeared after the Resurrection, stands behind him. The apostle on the other side of Christ is Saint Peter, who holds the key to heaven. The remaining figures are apostles who serve as witnesses to the miracle. The figure of Christ originally carried a cross-staff, symbolizing his victory over death.
[Gallery label text, June 2013]
Bibliography
See general reference to architecture and decoration of Saint-Martin de Candes: Congrès archéologique de France 1964 Blomme, Yves La Collégiale Saint-Martin de Candes 1997
Provenance
Sacristy of Saint-Martin-de-Candes; [Joret, Paris (dealer)?]; Bacri Frères, Paris (dealers); half share purchased from them by Joseph Brummer, New York (dealer), 1932; his sale, part III, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, June 8-9, 1949 lot 567; purchased at that sale by the Gallery
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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
- The Year 1200: A Centennial Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2/12/1970 - 5/10/1970
- Treasures from Rochester Memorial Art Gallery 4/14/1977 - 5/28/1977
Bibliography
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Article Author: Schilling, Susan E.. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. 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. Page Number: 34-35
- Article Title: Notable Additions to the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance Collections. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Memorial Art Gallery. Gallery Notes. Rochester, New York: Memorial Art Gallery, 1935-1995. Volume Number: 15, Issue Number: 1. Issue Date: October, 1949.
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Rochester Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester Handbook. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1961.
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Denys Sutton. Treasures from Rochester: Exhibited at Wildenstein Galleries, New York, April 14-May 28, 1977: Summary Catalogue. Rochester, New York: Memorial Art Gallery, 1977.
- Article Author: Eauclaire, Sally. Article Title: Gallery has Come a Long Way. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY: Rochester Print Co. Issue Date: April 14, 1977.
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. S. Lane Faison, Jr.. Art Tours and Detours in New York State. New York, New York: Random House, 1964.
- Article Author: Schilling, Susan E. and David A. Walsh. Article Title: An Early Gothic Sculpture of the Doubting Thomas. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Porticus. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery Volume Number: 8 Issue Date: 1985. Page Number: 1-6, Figure Number: 1, p. 1
- Apollo. London, England: Apollo
- Article Author: Brayer, Betsy. Article Title: The Herdles Go A-Hunting. Article Scope: Article. Rochester Review. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press Issue Date: Spring 1981. Page Number: 16-17
- Article Scope: Mention. Elizabeth Brayer. Magnum Opus: The Story of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1913-1988. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.
- Irondequoit Press. Irondequoit, NY: Irondequoit Press
- Memorial Art Gallery. ARTiculate. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 2000--.
- Article Author: Pressouyre, Leon. Article Title: La Renaissance du XIIe siècle. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Revue de l'art. Paris, France: Comité français d'histoire de l'art Volume Number: 7 Issue Date: 1970. Page Number: 98-99, Figure Number: 3
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Konrad Hoffmann. The Year 1200: A Centennial Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, February 12 through May 10, 1970. New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1970.
- Ludwig Schreiner. Die Frühgothische Plastik Südwestfrankreichs. Cologne, 1963.
- Article Author: Mussat, André. Article Title: Candes. Article Scope: Article. Congrès archéologique de France. Anjou, France: Société Française d'Archéologie, 1964. Volume Number: 122 Page Number: 502
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. 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: Hoene, Anne. Article Title: A Balanced Collection. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Art Gallery Magazine. Ivoryton, CT: Wm. C. Bendig Volume Number: XI, Issue Number: 10. Issue Date: Summer 1968. Page Number: 20
- Article Author: Pikrone, Mary Anne. Article Title: Paydirt in the Salt Mine. Article Scope: Article. Times-Union. Rochester, NY: Gannett Issue Date: August 20, 1968.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin. New York, NY: Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Scene. Rochester, NY: Arts & Cultural Council, 1969-1976.
- Eloise Spaeth. American Art Museums: An Introduction to Looking. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1969.
- Article Author: Ward, Susan Leibacher. 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: 155-156, Figure Number: 90
- Article Scope: Mention and reproduction. Marjorie Searl and Lu Harper. The Memorial Art Gallery: 100 Years. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 2013.
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