Artwork
The Virgin and Child and St Catherine with the Emperor Maxentius
The Virgin and Child and St Catherine with the Emperor Maxentius is a work on paper by Unknown. It dates from 1300 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This ivory diptych, created in Paris between 1300 and 1330, consists of two hinged panels.
About this work
Overview
This ivory diptych, created in Paris between 1300 and 1330, consists of two hinged panels. Its small size suggests it was designed to be portable, potentially held in the hand and opened like a book.
Subject & Meaning
The diptych depicts two scenes: the Virgin and Child with a kneeling worshipper on one panel, and St Catherine trampling Emperor Maxentius on the other. St Catherine, a 4th-century martyr, was a popular saint in the later Middle Ages, and the depiction of her subduing Maxentius is unusual.
Technique & Style
The diptych features intricate carvings under trefoil arches, with gilded circles containing red crosses in the spandrels. Its style is characteristic of Gothic ivory carving, a medium often used for devotional diptychs.
History & Provenance
The diptych is an example of a devotional object that emerged in the 13th century, with the earliest known examples dating to the 1240s. The inclusion of a kneeling worshipper suggests it may have been a special commission, potentially featuring a portrait of its owner.
Artist & collection
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