Romanesque Christ in Majesty. Romanesque Provençal Art.

Important and rare romanesque sculpture in very high relief belonging to a representation of the Last Judgment, and coming from a Romanesque portal or tympanum. Christ is represented seated on a throne, holding the book in his left hand and raising his right arm which has disappeared. The raising of the shoulder attests to the gesture. He wears a coat with straight folds in the antique style and richly decorated on the torso. The throne is decorated with rosettes and friezes of dots. The Book is also finely sculpted, with rosettes and characters. It probably represents the Book of Life with four engraved episodes relating to the judged soul. This Christ in glory is part of the corpus of sculptures of Provençal Romanesque art and can be dated to the middle of the 12th century.

The Book of Life is linked to the Last Judgment and is described in Apocalypse chapter 20 verse 12. The scenes engraved here represent in a dial a character in various attitudes, lying down, standing, falling head down, and undoubtedly evoke major events in the life of the person judged (see photograph with increased contrasts). Despite the gaps, this sculpture retains its strength and presence. Representations of Christ in Majesty from a portal are extremely rare in public and private collections. Our sculpture also presents an unpublished illustration of the Apocalypse of the New Testament. Provenance: in a Provençal family for several generations.
Related works: portal of Saint-Trophime, Arles. North portal of Saint-Gilles du Gard - Characters of the Book: praying on the lintel of the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre of Beaumont-du-Ventoux and portal of the church of Sainte-Jalle.
Works consulted: Tympans and Roman portals, Michel Pastoureau Vincent Cunillere, 2014 - The ancient influence in Provençal Roman art, Victor Lassalle · 1970 - Roman sculptures of Haute-Provence, Jacques Thirion, In Bulletin Monumental, volume 130 n°1, 1972.

Origin: Provence, France

Medium: Limestone

Size: H: 61cm without base, 81cm with base.

Period: 12th century

Condition: Visible lacks.

Price: on demand

Ref.247