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Capital
French (Languedoc)
Medieval (Romanesque)
about 1200–50
Object Place: Europe, Toulouse, France
Medium/Technique
Stone; limestone
Dimensions
Overall: 27 x 22.5 x 22cm (10 5/8 x 8 7/8 x 8 11/16in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Albertine W. F. Valentine, residuary legatee under the will of Hervey E. Wetzel
Accession Number19.645
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsArchitectural elements
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.
DescriptionLimestone capital, carved in the Romanesque style.
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.