The emperor depicted, however, is usually identified as Justinian, or possibly Anastasius I or Zeno. The Barberini Diptych is attributed to an imperial workshop in Constantinople. It is carved in the style known as Late Theodosian, representing the emperor as triumphant victor. 500-550 CE) is a Byzantine ivory leaf from an imperial diptych dating from Late Antiquity. Carved ivory covers were used as treasure bindings on the most precious illuminated manuscripts. These book covers were sometimes assembled from up to five smaller panels due to the limited width of the tusk. Such ivory panels were used as treasure bindings (elaborate book covers) from the sixth century, usually as centerpieces, and surrounded by metalwork and gems. The form was later adopted for Christian use, with images of Christ, the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary), and saints. As a result, small-scale sculpture-for which ivory was in many ways the best material-was central to art in a way that it rarely was at other times.Ĭonsuls, civil officers who played an important administrative role until 541, gave Roman Consular diptychs as presents. When Christianity was legalized and later, became the official religion of the Empire, these attitudes remained. Objects that were small-scale and lightweight are more easily carried and hidden, attributes that a persecuted class worshiping in secret would have found necessary. During the persecution of Christians, such reliefs were typically kept small in scale, no larger than the reliefs on sarcophagi. In the Early Christian period, Christians avoided monumental sculpture, which was associated with the old pagan Roman religion and sculpted almost exclusively in relief. Ivory diptychs, often elaborately decorated, were issued as gifts by newly appointed consuls. Because of this, many ivory carvings from the Early Byzantine period still survive. This art form has a special importance to the history of Byzantine art because it has no bullion value and is not easily recycled like precious metals or jewels.
Ivory carving is the manual or mechanical carving of either animal tooth or tusk, wherein very fine detail can be achieved, and the surviving works often demonstrate intricate and complicated designs.
However, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, it remained significant.Ī type of artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background.Ī picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets, usually connected by hinges. Western art gradually began to focus on monumental sculpture and ivory carving declined in importance.Carved ivory covers were used for treasure bindings on the most precious illuminated manuscripts. They were assembled from up to five smaller panels because of the limited width of the tusk. Ivory panels were used as book covers, usually as the centerpiece to a surround of metalwork and gems.The Barberini Diptych and the Archangel Ivory are two significant examples of ivory carving from the first half of the sixth century.Early Christians valued the small scale of these relief sculptures which contrasted with the monumental sculpture favored by pagans. Ivory carving has a special importance to the Byzantine Empire because it has no bullion value and cannot be melted down or otherwise recycled.Elaborate ivory diptychs were central to the art of this period.Once belonging to the Trivulzio Collection, the piece was purchased in 1935 by the City of Milan. The refined workmanship, the late Roman culture of the sculptor, and the extraordinary softness of carving, places the origin of the piece in one of the capitals of the Western Empire, probably Rome. The attribution of such an early date, the 5th century AD, stems from stylistic considerations. The doors of the building behind the women are decorated with three scenes from the Gospels, the Resurrection of Lazarus, Zacchaeus climbing the tree to see Jesus and Christ teaching the crowd. The presence of only two evangelists suggests the existence of a second piece, now lost. In the scene below, the women, united in mourning for the dead Saviour, encounter a character, who represents an angel or the risen Christ. It is a justly famous piece because it is one of the first ivory diptychs with religious content and one of the earliest known representations of the Holy Sepulchre, which appears below the images of two Evangelists: Luke, symbolised by a bull, and Mathew, by an angel. The bas-relief tablet is among the finest examples of late Roman ivories.
Location: Rocchetta, 2nd floor, Room XXXII Marys at the Sepulchre, ivory, 5th Century AD (inv.