MAG Collection - Capital of a Man with Birds

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Capital of a Man with Birds

ca. 1125-1150
12 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 11 in. (31.8 x 29.2 x 27.9 cm)

French artist
France

French, made in Southwestern France

Object Type: Sculpture

Medium and Support: Limestone

Credit Line: Gift of Joseph Brummer

Accession Number: 1930.3

Location: Currently on view

Link to this object

The capitals that crowned the columns of medieval churches were frequently carved with religious or allegorical scenes. At the corner of two of the four sides of this capital, a squatting figure grasps birds by the neck with each hand. In medieval art, the image of a figure struggling with creatures that seem fearsome or malevolent often represents the ongoing struggle between man and beast, or good and evil.

This sculpture was probably originally decorated on all four sides, but at some point in its history was cut down for use as a corner capital.

[Gallery label text, June 2013]

Provenance

Joseph Brummer, New York (dealer); his gift to the Gallery in 1930

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword

1000-1400

capitals

sculpture

figures

Exhibition List

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Medieval Art in Upstate New York Everson Museum of Art 4/1/1974 - 5/31/1974

Bibliography

This object has the following bibliographic references:

Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Rochester Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester Handbook. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1961.
Article Author: Wright, Mabel Trathen. Article Title: Stone of Romanesque Period Given Gallery. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY: Rochester Print Co. Issue Date: April 13, 1930.
Article Author: Walsh, David A.. Article Title: Romanesque Capital: Man with Basilisks. Porticus. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery Volume Number: 2 Issue Date: 1979. Page Number: 12-17
Article Scope: Mention. Elizabeth Brayer. Magnum Opus: The Story of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1913-1988. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.
Article Author: Cahn, Walter. Article Title: Romanesque Sculpture in American collections. VII. New York and New Jersey. Article Scope: Article and reproduction. Gesta. New York, NY: International Center of Medieval Art Volume Number: 10, Issue Number: 1. Issue Date: 1971. Page Number: 45+, Figure Number: 10, p. 50
Article Author: Cahn, Walter. Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Peg Weiss, ed. Medieval Art in Upstate New York. Syracuse, NY: Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County , 1974. Page Number: 36-37, Figure Number: 21
Article Title: Capital. Western France. Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. Walter Cahn. Romanesque Sculpture in American Collections: Vol. II: New York and New Jersey, Middle and South Atlantic States, the Midwest, Western and Pacific States. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 1999. Page Number: 7

Object Results

Capital of a Man with Birds