DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75314#0427
Ivories in Italy. 345
The back of the central piece of this triptych is ornamented with a
large and very fplendid gemmed crofs, furrounded by a beautiful ara-
befque defign of foliage and rofettes with birds refting in the branches,
and on each volet are four full-length figures and two bufts of Greek
faints, quite fimilar to the Berengarius book cover at Monza.
The proportions of the figures, efpecially in thofe of the front central
group, which are cut in very deep relief, are too attenuated. They are
not correctly reprefented (in this refpeft) in the two large plates of the
front and back fides given by Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii. plates 24 and 25;
a photograph of the front is contained in the Simelli feries.
4. The Rambona diptych, with Romulus and Remulus. Caft
defcribed above (p. 56, Nos. 127 and 128). Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii.
pl. 22.
5. The very rude piece with Chrift feated with St. Protafius and
St. Gervafius below, and cherubims and feraphims above, confidered by
the Abbe Montault to be of " authenticite douteufe." Simelli Photogr.,
Mr. Parker's feries, No. 131. Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii. p. 69. From
the Monaftery of " St. Michael de Muriano Venetiarum." Above
defcribed from caft (p. 55, No. 125).
6. Byzantine panel, H. 6| in., W. 5 in. The Birth of Chrift.
Iith century.
The Virgin repofes on a carved bed or mattrafs in the centre, above
which, on the top of an oblong box-like manger, the Infant lies fwaddled,
the heads of the ox and afs appearing above, and a ray of light defcend-
ing on the head of the Child from a ftar; over the head of the angel is
infcribed, H rGNNHCIC, above which is a low tree; three angels regard
the fcene from above. Below, Jofeph, aged, looking towards the left ;
to the right, Salome and Anaftafia are dipping the Infant into a vafe.
The left of the piece is occupied by a winglefs angel, directing the
attention of a fhepherd towards the ftar; feveral iheep and goats below.
A plain raifed border round the plaque. Simelli, Photogr., Mr. Parker's
feries, No. 69.
7. Plaque of a book cover? 9th or 10th century. H. 5 in., W.
3l in-
Two compartments. In the lower, the birth of Chrift. The
Virgin fits on a mattrafs on the ground to the right; to the left
Jofeph feated, the manger in the middle with the heads of ox and afs ;
above are feen the bufts of four angels and of three ihepherds. In the
upper compartment an angel facing the fpedator fits (to the left) in
ROME.
THE
VATICAN.
The back of the central piece of this triptych is ornamented with a
large and very fplendid gemmed crofs, furrounded by a beautiful ara-
befque defign of foliage and rofettes with birds refting in the branches,
and on each volet are four full-length figures and two bufts of Greek
faints, quite fimilar to the Berengarius book cover at Monza.
The proportions of the figures, efpecially in thofe of the front central
group, which are cut in very deep relief, are too attenuated. They are
not correctly reprefented (in this refpeft) in the two large plates of the
front and back fides given by Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii. plates 24 and 25;
a photograph of the front is contained in the Simelli feries.
4. The Rambona diptych, with Romulus and Remulus. Caft
defcribed above (p. 56, Nos. 127 and 128). Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii.
pl. 22.
5. The very rude piece with Chrift feated with St. Protafius and
St. Gervafius below, and cherubims and feraphims above, confidered by
the Abbe Montault to be of " authenticite douteufe." Simelli Photogr.,
Mr. Parker's feries, No. 131. Gorius, Thes. Dipt., iii. p. 69. From
the Monaftery of " St. Michael de Muriano Venetiarum." Above
defcribed from caft (p. 55, No. 125).
6. Byzantine panel, H. 6| in., W. 5 in. The Birth of Chrift.
Iith century.
The Virgin repofes on a carved bed or mattrafs in the centre, above
which, on the top of an oblong box-like manger, the Infant lies fwaddled,
the heads of the ox and afs appearing above, and a ray of light defcend-
ing on the head of the Child from a ftar; over the head of the angel is
infcribed, H rGNNHCIC, above which is a low tree; three angels regard
the fcene from above. Below, Jofeph, aged, looking towards the left ;
to the right, Salome and Anaftafia are dipping the Infant into a vafe.
The left of the piece is occupied by a winglefs angel, directing the
attention of a fhepherd towards the ftar; feveral iheep and goats below.
A plain raifed border round the plaque. Simelli, Photogr., Mr. Parker's
feries, No. 69.
7. Plaque of a book cover? 9th or 10th century. H. 5 in., W.
3l in-
Two compartments. In the lower, the birth of Chrift. The
Virgin fits on a mattrafs on the ground to the right; to the left
Jofeph feated, the manger in the middle with the heads of ox and afs ;
above are feen the bufts of four angels and of three ihepherds. In the
upper compartment an angel facing the fpedator fits (to the left) in
ROME.
THE
VATICAN.