The Diptych of Boethius is an

ivory Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals is ...

consular diptych In Late Antiquity, a consular diptych was a type of diptych intended as a de-luxe commemorative object. The diptychs were generally in ivory, wood or metal and decorated with rich relief sculpture. A consular diptych was commissioned by a ''consu ...

(24x18x2 cm), which dates from the end of the fifth century AD and is conserved in the

Museo di Santa Giulia Museo may refer to: * Museo, 2018 Mexican drama heist film *Museo (Naples Metro) Museo is a station on line 1 of the Naples Metro. It was opened on 5 April 2001 as the eastern terminus of the section of the line between Vanvitelli and Museo. ...

Brescia Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. ...

. Acquired by Cardinal

Angelo Maria Querini Angelo Maria Querini or Quirini (30 March 1680 – 6 January 1755) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Biography Born in Venice, he entered the Benedictine Order in Florence in 1695 and was ordained in 1702. From 1710 to 1714, ...

during the eighteenth century, the work passed to the Museo dell'Era Cristiana in his will.

History

The piece was made by Roman artisans to celebrate

Manlius Boethius Nar. Manlius Boethius (died ''circa'' 487) was a Roman and Italian aristocrat, who was appointed consul for 487. He was likely the father of the Roman philosopher, Boethius. Life He was probably the son of Boethius, the praetorian prefect of I ...

' second appointment as

praefectus urbi The ''praefectus urbanus'', also called ''praefectus urbi'' or urban prefect in English, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and ...

of Rome in 487. The purpose of the work was purely commemorative - diptychs of this type were commissioned in order to be donated to friends and intimates on the occasion of important events, such as the appointment to important public offices.Renata Stradiotti, pag. 349 Initially displayed in the Museo dell'Era Cristiana, which was opened in some rooms of the suppressed Monastery of Santa Giulia, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it remained there for some time. With the opening of the

in 1998, the diptych became part of the "Collectables and applied arts" collection and is found in the vitrines dedicated to the Querini collection.

Description and style

The diptych shows the consul on both panels, seated on a throne and wearing a toga picta — a long, folded scarf arranged by a complex protocol. In both depictions, his left hand holds a scepter with an eagle surmounting a globe, while his right hand holds handkerchief (mappa circensis) used to begin the consul sponsored games. In both panels, with money bags at his feet are evidence of his munificence. In the image above, the left panel has the consul standing, while on the right panel, he sits on a curial chair.Catalogue of the Fejérváry Ivories In the Museum of Joseph Mayer
By Joseph Mayer, Gábor Fejérváry, Ferencz Aurelius Pulszky · 1856, page 9. The dedicatory inscription on the second tablet records the event being celebrated, which therefore allows the work to be dated: EX P(raefecto) P(raetorio) P(raefectus) U(rbi) SEC(undo) CONS(ul) ORD(inarius) ET PATRIC(ius) "From the

Praetorian Prefect The praetorian prefect ( la, praefectus praetorio, el, ) was a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders be ...

, Praefectus Urbi for the second time, ordinary Consul and

patrician Patrician may refer to: * Patrician (ancient Rome), the original aristocratic families of ancient Rome, and a synonym for "aristocratic" in modern English usage * Patrician (post-Roman Europe), the governing elites of cities in parts of medieval ...

." The inscription on the first tablet identifies the person being commemorated as Manlius Boethius. The work shows signs of final decoration with a burin which was able to produce the different depths of relief (the sceptres, the figure of Boethius, the architecture in the background) and to create the light but plentiful embroidery of the tunics.

References

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Bibliography

*Renata Stradiotti (ed.), ''San Salvatore - Santa Giulia a Brescia. Il monastero nella storia'', Skira, Milano 2001 5th century in art Sculptures in Italy Late Roman Empire sculptures Consular diptychs Ivory works of art

History

Description and style

See also

References

Bibliography