Capital
about 1200–50
Object PlaceToulouse, France
Medium/TechniqueStone; limestone
DimensionsOverall: 27 x 22.5 x 22cm (10 5/8 x 8 7/8 x 8 11/16in.)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Albertine W. F. Valentine, residuary legatee under the will of Hervey E. Wetzel
Accession number19.645
On View
On viewClassificationsArchitectural elements
Collections
Capitals, the crowning elements of columns, provided areas for sculptural decoration in church interiors and monastic cloisters. The most extravagantly carved capitals might include figures, narrative scenes, plant life, animals, or fantastic beasts. These examples display mythical creatures including the dragon and possibly the amphisbaena--a serpent with a head at either end of its body--both believed in medieval times to exist.
ProvenanceBy 1917, sold by Dikran G. Kelekian (dealer; b. 1867 - d. 1953), New York, to Hervey E. Wetzel (b. 1888 - d. 1918), Boston; 1918, by inheritance to his cousin, Mrs. Albertine W. F. Valentine, Chicago [see note 1]; 1919, gift of Mrs. Albertine W. F. Valentine, residuary legatee under the will of Hervey E. Wetzel, to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 31, 1919)
NOTES:
[1] First lent to the MFA in 1917.
NOTES:
[1] First lent to the MFA in 1917.
Unidentified artist
1443–56
15th century
Late 16th century
15th century
early 16th century
about 1560
