The gray and beige marble fragment of a decorative relief is embedded in the wall between the pointed peaks of two window arches. It is shaped like a square whose top corners are rounded into a semicircle. Its thick border is partly damaged, and missing on the bottom, where the fragment was probably broken off from its source. The design of the relief is symmetrical, about a central vertical stalk dividing the image in two. The stalk is topped by an oval object which looks like a stylized leaf, flower bud, or fruit, with V-shaped striations, and shallow drilled holes between them. In the left half of the image, there is a creature seen in profile view, standing on its hind legs and supporting its front legs on the stalk. Its body is similar to that of a lion, with strong legs, a supple abdomen, and a strong chest. Its long tail with a tuft on the end comes down between its legs and bends upward by the right side of its body. We see a wing arising from the front side of its body above the front right leg, curling towards its long, inward curving neck. Its head is that of a bird, with a thick, downward-curved beak, and rooster-like hanging wattles. It also has long, upright ears, and a visible right eye. The creature is pecking the oval end of the stalk and supporting its hind legs on a curled stalk offshoot. The curl is framing the bird-like head of another creature, whose neck is visible below the offshoot. Its body is cut off by the bottom of the relief. The right half of the image is a reflection of the left one.
Italian, Venice
Fragment of a Decorative Relief,
12th century
Marble
,
60.6 cm (23 7/8 in.)
Object details
Accession number
S5n21
Primary Creator
Italian, Venice
Full title
Fragment of a Decorative Relief
Creation Date
12th century
Provenance
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from the marble mason and dealer Francesco Dorigo, Venice for about 120 lire on 22 September 1897.
Dimensions
60.6 cm (23 7/8 in.)
Display Media
Marble
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Courtyard
Bibliography
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 42. (the courtyard relief sculpture discussed generally)
Walter Cahn. "Romanesque Sculpture in American Collections. IV. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston." Gesta (1969), p. 56, no. 13. (as Venetian, 12th century)
Cornelius C. Vermeule III et al. Sculpture in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1977), p. 60, no. 85.
Rights and reproductions
The use of images, text, and all other media found on this website is limited. Please review Rights and Reproductions for details.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.