Reliquary of the Holy Thorn (Tactile)

Synopsis

Paris, France; about 1390-97; gold, enamel, rock-crystal, pearls, rubies, and sapphires; about 30 cm high by 14 cm wide and 7 cm deep. Jean duc de Berry, the brother of Charles V of France, commissioned this opulent reliquary between 1390 and 1397. The relic, a thorn from Christ's Crown of Thorns, is mounted on a large sapphire behind a rock-crystal window at the centre of the piece. At the back of the reliquary is another compartment. It is sealed by two doors decorated with depictions of the archangel St Michael on the left and St Christopher bearing the infant Jesus on the right. Above them is an image of the face of Christ. This might suggest that a relic of the Sudarium, the cloth used by St Veronica to wipe Christ's face, was contained behind the doors. The reliquary's patron, Jean duc de Berry, is represented by his heraldry. His symbol, the fleur de lys, decorates two plaques set into the castellated base. Enamel has been applied all around the figures that adorn the reliquary. This technique is testimony to the skill of the Parisian goldsmiths at the end of the 1300s. The reliquary depicts the Last Judgement, when mankind would face Christ as judge. It was thought that at the Last Judgement Christ would reclaim the relics of his crucifixion from the Kingdom of France, which would then become the Kingdom of Heaven. This reliquary is highly elaborate and richly decorated with the theme of the Last Judgement. It is designed around a single thorn, about 5 cm long, that is mounted on a large circular sapphire and displayed in a niche behind an arched rock crystal window at the centre of the piece. The base is made of gold and is in the form of castle walls that basically consists of four turrets framing two arches that are either side of a central stepped doorway. Kneeling on each turret is a golden winged angel dressed in a white robe with blue fleur de lys patterning. The angels are holding curved golden trumpets to their lips that they are blowing to awaken the dead. The fleur de lys patterning is also shown on two rectangular plaques set between the turrets above the arches. Above the turrets is an emerald green mound on which there are coffin-shaped tombs with naked figures of the dead rising from them, their hands raised in astonishment. At the top of the mound, just below the bottom of the central niche, is a scroll with a Latin inscription over two lines that reads "Ista est una spinea corone / Domine nostri ihesu cristi" and this translate to "This is a thorn from the crown of Our Lord Jesus Christ". In the central domed niche, the thorn on the sapphire is in a setting with three figures and two angels against a gold background. The large sapphire sits centrally at the base of the niche with the thin brown pointed thorn rising more or less vertically from it. In the centre, seated on a rainbow with the thorn resting between his knees, is the bearded figure of Christ with a long white robe draped over his naked body with his bare feet, showing two wounds of his crucifixion, resting on a white sphere. His right hand is held up showing us his palm with a third wound of crucifixion and his left hand is held out to his side with the fourth wound just visible. The fifth wound is shown on the right hand side of Christ's upper body. Two angels, dressed in white with blue fleur de lys patterning, float either side above Christ's head holding instruments of the Passion - a lance on the left and a cross on the right. Kneeling at the base of the niche either side of the sapphire, with their hands together in worship and looking up at Christ, are the Virgin Mary (on the left) and John the Baptist (on the right). The Virgin Mary is dressed in a white cloak with green lining over red robes and John the Baptist is dressed in white and red robes.

Copyright:

2011

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Publisher:

RNIB

Date of Addition:

06/05/17

Copyrighted By:

RNIB

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Religion and Spirituality

Submitted By:

Chantelle Hughes

Proofread By:

N/A

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.