|
Set of 4 Istrian Stone Medallions depicting the symbols of the 4 Evangelists.
Works worked and carved by hand, from Venice, private collection, 19th century.
They are real Venetian "pàtere", recognizable by the circular shape and small size.
All four evangelists have an iconic symbol that is generally depicted near or in place of the saint in paintings and sculptures. These symbols are associated with the saint's own Gospel and with the verse in Revelation 4:7, where four living creatures are described, a lion, a man, a calf and one "like an eagle as it flies," who, around God, are intent on singing his praises.
St. John has the eagle as his symbol, because just as it was believed that the eagle could gaze upon the sun, he too gazed upon the depth of divinity in his Gospel. This bird was used as a symbol of St. John, because in his Gospel, he particularly focuses on the divinity of the Redeemer and contemplates with the unwavering eye of the eagle, the highest truths.
St. Luke, his emblem is the bull / ox: the attribution has different interpretations and traditions, according to St. Jerome and Bishop Victor is due to the fact that in his Gospel introduces as the first character Zechariah, father of the Baptist. He, being a priest of the temple, offered sacrifices of bulls.
The symbol of St. Mark is the lion. The main reason seems to be the fact that in the Gospel of Mark is narrated the greatest number of prophecies that Christ made about his own resurrection, and the lion would represent, by virtue of his fortitude, just the resurrection. This is in accordance both with the thought of the Father of the Church Saint Gregory the Great, and with what the gloss of the Holy Bible always used to say (the gloss at the time had a greater relevance than the present one). Saint Mark is also the patron saint of Venice. According to an ancient tradition of the Venetian region, an angel in the form of a winged lion addressed to the saint, shipwrecked in the lagoons, the words "Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus. Hic requiescet corpus tuum." (Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist. Here will rest your body.) foretelling him that in those lands his body would one day find rest and veneration.
St. Matthew was symbolized in the winged man (or angel), because his Gospel begins with a list of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah.
They are of small size, well proportioned and appropriate weight.
The quality is very good, excellent attention to anatomical details.
Collection more unique than rare. Excellent if hung on the wall. Exclusive lot, sporadic availability.
You can see that for example the pàtera depicting St. Matthew has a different patina from the other, this is because the marble has been slightly wet and clean in order to highlight the quality and veining of Istria and just to point out that it is precisely marble and not cement!
They are in very good condition, undamaged.
They will be shipped in a wooden box.
Cheap shipping, secure and traceable throughout the world.
The shipment will be agreed privately at the end of the auction, will be borne by the buyer and will not be high cost.
Each medallion measures:
- Diameter 31 cm
- Thickness 5 cm
Weight 8 Kg.
|
Request for more information
See more items of this dealer
Print
