VOTIF RELIEF OF THE ABBEY NOTRE-DAME-DU-PALAIS... Lot 8
Result :
Not available
Estimate :
Subscribers only
VOTIF RELIEF OF THE ABBEY NOTRE-DAME-DU-PALAIS Limousin, 1412
Stone
Restorations
H. 82 cm; W. 72 cm; D. 21 cm
Inconsistent inscription in Gothic letters on the frame, with the date 1412
Two shields with dagger and scabbard passed in saltire
Provenance
Abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Palais, Bourganeuf
Private collection, South-West of France
This votive relief, in two parts, was commissioned in 1412 under the abbatiate of Jean II Richier for Notre-Dame-du-Palais. This Cistercian abbey, founded in the 12th century and partly destroyed in the 18th century, was sold during the Revolution. It has remained in private ownership and has since been transformed into a guest house.
The figures are sculpted in very high relief. They are housed in a stone frame with toric mouldings. Two shields with daggers adorn the upper corners, in keeping with the hunting theme of the legend of Saint Eustace represented below.
On the right side, the saint in prayer is standing in the middle of a stream while at his feet a wolf and a lion take away his two sons, one of whom is shown here as an infant. At her side, two angels crown the Virgin. She holds a fleur-de-lis in her right hand, the Child with a phylactery on her left arm.
In the left-hand section, the saint appears once again. He is kneeling next to his horse, accompanied by his dogs and tonsured cowboys.
Legend has it that Eustace converted to Christianity after seeing Christ appear between the antlers of a stag. He was baptized that evening with his wife and two sons, and then left Rome with his family by sea. He valiantly underwent a series of trials.
When he arrived in Alexandria, he helped his children cross the Nile, but just as he was in the middle of the river, two ferocious beasts appeared... Back in Rome, he is condemned to be thrown to the ferocious beasts of the circus before finally being placed in a bronze bull reddened by fire. Patron saint of hunters, he is above all one of the Fourteen Holy Intercessors, obviously asked here to watch over the salvation of the Cistercian community of Notre-Dame-du-Palais.
The unusual choice of depicting the hunter in the company of his tenants, who are all the more tonsured, or the scene of the Nile Crossing, testifies to the involvement of the commissioner in the production of this high relief for which an artist of great quality was chosen. The rendering of the fur-lined fabrics, the pleating of the draperies, the details of the accessories or the anatomy of the dogs show a keen observation of his daily environment. Our sculptor thus demonstrates a sensitivity to the world around him that was still rare at the beginning of the 15th century but already sought after by enthusiasts.
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.