The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 22, 2024

Ivory Plaque with Enthroned Mother of God ("The Stroganoff Ivory")

Ivory Plaque with Enthroned Mother of God ("The Stroganoff Ivory")

950–1025
Overall: 25.3 x 17.2 x 1.8 cm (9 15/16 x 6 3/4 x 11/16 in.)
Location: 105 Byzantine

Did You Know?

This ivory is also known as the Stroganoff Ivory because it was once in the collection of Sergei Grigoryevich Stroganoff, a Russian statesman and art historian.

Description

The Mother of God is seated on a lavishly carved, high-backed throne. Two angels hover above, drawing attention to the Christ child poised in her lap. Representations of the enthroned Virgin and Child have a long tradition in Byzantine art, stretching back as far as the 6th century. With one hand raised in blessing, the other holding a scroll, Christ is portrayed here as an emotionless and supernatural child, visualizing for the pious beholder the mystery of his incarnation.
  • Bastard Collection, Paris, France
    ?-1834
    Francis Douce, London (d. 1834)
    June 1836
    Douce and Meyrick Collection
    Collection of Count Stroganoff (1794-1882), Rome, Italy
    ?-1913
    Malcolm Collection, sold at Christie's May 1, 1913, No. 20
    ?-1925
    Tartaglia & Co. Sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1925-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
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    The Silver Jubilee Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 23-September 28, 1941).
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  • {{cite web|title=Ivory Plaque with Enthroned Mother of God ("The Stroganoff Ivory")|url=false|author=|year=950–1025|access-date=22 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1925.1293