Alexander the Great's celestial adventure: enamel and cloisonné plaque c. 1160
At least twelve plaques set in the same borders and skillfully worked in the same techniques are known to have survived, perhaps from a shrine or an altarpiece.
The imagery of the series is complicated, but not exclusively Christian as can be seen in the three examples shown here from the V & A museum.
Here we have a written name, Alexander. 'King Alexander the Great' is about to visit the heavens in a shallow cart drawn by two griffins who travel ever upwards in pursuit of the meaty food held up on the end of a long pole - which always eludes them.
For a thorough investigation of the art of the 'Fantastical Adventures of Alexander the Great', go to the fascinating article including work by Loomis, Schmidt, Khundadze and above all Julianna Lees,
www.green-man-of-cercles.org/articles/alexander.pdf
Meuse Valley, Liege region (Belgium) workshop.
One of the 'Rolls Plaques' (from the family who owned them) or 'Llangattock Plaques'.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102851
Alexander the Great's celestial adventure: enamel and cloisonné plaque c. 1160
At least twelve plaques set in the same borders and skillfully worked in the same techniques are known to have survived, perhaps from a shrine or an altarpiece.
The imagery of the series is complicated, but not exclusively Christian as can be seen in the three examples shown here from the V & A museum.
Here we have a written name, Alexander. 'King Alexander the Great' is about to visit the heavens in a shallow cart drawn by two griffins who travel ever upwards in pursuit of the meaty food held up on the end of a long pole - which always eludes them.
For a thorough investigation of the art of the 'Fantastical Adventures of Alexander the Great', go to the fascinating article including work by Loomis, Schmidt, Khundadze and above all Julianna Lees,
www.green-man-of-cercles.org/articles/alexander.pdf
Meuse Valley, Liege region (Belgium) workshop.
One of the 'Rolls Plaques' (from the family who owned them) or 'Llangattock Plaques'.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102851