Head of an Apostle. Paris 13th century. Main view of the sculpture

Head of an Apostle. Paris 13th century. View number 1

Head of an Apostle. Paris 13th century. View number 2

Head of an Apostle. Paris 13th century. View number 3

Head of an Apostle. Paris 13th century.

Large head of an apostle from Parisian workshops, end of the 13th century. The saint is portrayed as mature, with well-defined facial features, including marked cheekbones and deeply incised lines that convey a sense of age and wisdom. The beard and mustache fall into fine, well-delineated strands, while the hair is sculpted in thicker, undulating locks. The austere expression and the treatment of the features suggest a focus on emphasizing the gravity and spiritual authority of the figure. Its stylistic characteristics and the use of Lutetian limestone allow it to be confidently placed within the corpus of Parisian Gothic sculpture from the end of the 13th century.
This sculpture demonstrates the enduring influence of Jean de Chelles and his contemporaries in the final decades of the 13th century.

References consulted:

Louvre Museum, Department of Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Sculpture. French Sculpture, Vol. I, Françoise Baron, RMN, 1996.
National Museum of the Louvre.Catalogue of Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Sculpture, Paul Vitry.
Gothic Sculpture, Pierre-Yves Le Pogam.
Set in Stone: The Face in Medieval Sculpture, The Met Museum.

Information request

Origin: Paris, France.

Medium: Limestone.

Size: H: 26 cm.

Period: End 13. Jahrhundert.

Condition: Erosion and damage to the nose.

Price: on demand

Ref.255