File:The ivory workers of the middle ages (1906) (14593393339).jpg

Identifier: ivoryworkersmidage00cust (find matches)
Title: The ivory workers of the middle ages
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Cust, Anna Maria Elizabeth
Subjects: Ivories
Publisher: London, G. Bell and sons
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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and miniatures. The Victoria and Albert Mu-seum possesses an excellent example in the strip ofivory, with Joshua receiving envoys from thepeople of Gibeon, which is taken almost line forline from two miniatures in the famous JoshuaRoll in the Vatican Library; except that in thetranslation of the painting into sculpture, certaindetails had to be simplified, and the serried ranksof Joshuas soldiers were reduced to a faithfulcopy of the forward group. A tiny plaque in the Grline Gewolbe at Dres-den is another instance of this connection with themanuscripts. It is one of two surviving portionsof a casket decorated with the life of Joseph, andis directly inspired by the wonderful Genesis codexat Vienna. This codex is especially interesting asshowing the artists delight in scenes of domesticaffection ; the picture, which coincides with the ivorycarving, illustrates the departure of Joseph to getnews of his brethren. His father with a statelygesture bids him go, and as he goes he turns to 80
Text Appearing After Image:
IVORY WORKERS kiss his little brother Benjamin, who follows him alittle way. The sculptor has taken the moment ofthe kiss, and the gentleness of the action is likethe little domestic scene on the casket in theMuseo Kircheriano at Rome (Fig. i6). The carvings on this casket give a graphicaccount of the early life and adventures of David,and are most probably derived from some lostmanuscript of the Book of Samuel. The activelittle figures are exceedingly droll, and it is dif-cult not to think that a little of the gay secularspirit had crept into these more sober scenes.The lamb which sits up and begs while Davidpipes is particularly engaging. The front side ofthe sloping lid is given up to most tragic scenes.The Massacre of the Innocents, and the MtLrderof Zachariah, the High Priest, killed betweenthe temple and the altarT The inscription tells usthat the casket was intended as a marriage gift toa Basileus and Basilissa from another wedded pair,the portraits all being on the top. The va

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