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Source Description
This semi-circular ivory plaque is carved with the biblical narrative of Genesis 4:2-4, describing the offerings to God made by the sons of Adam and Eve. Above, the Hand of God emerges from a cloud to bless Abel, who stands at the left holding a lamb, while at the right, Cain and his offering of a sheaf of wheat are not blessed. Scenes of the Sacrifice of Cain and Abel were often used on portable altars to symbolize the offering of the Eucharist (the bread and the wine representing Christ's body and blood) during the Mass. The style of the figures and drapery is similar to manuscript illuminations from Jumièges in northern France and St. Alban's in England.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
15286
label
The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
6
Source metadata
id
15286
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel
description
This semi-circular ivory plaque is carved with the biblical narrative of Genesis 4:2-4, describing the offerings to God made by the sons of Adam and Eve. Above, the Hand of God emerges from a cloud to bless Abel, who stands at the left holding a lamb, while at the right, Cain and his offering of a sheaf of wheat are not blessed. Scenes of the Sacrifice of Cain and Abel were often used on portable altars to symbolize the offering of the Eucharist (the bread and the wine representing Christ's body and blood) during the Mass. The style of the figures and drapery is similar to manuscript illuminations from Jumièges in northern France and St. Alban's in England.
provenance
Count Auguste de Bastard [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henri Daguerre, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
early 12th century (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ivory & Bone
plaques
altars
imageCount
6
pageCount
6
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
6.3
height
10.5
depth
1.5
dimensionsRaw
2 1/2 x 4 1/8 x 9/16 in. (6.3 x 10.5 x 1.5 cm)
Source extras
cul
Anglo-Norman
style
Romanesque
med
ivory
creator_ids
6229
6197
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
192
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
4c73d03fbd10ea8e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
f56a81595c4f770b
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
51097ca5e2b978db
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
1135385b7f67404e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
f6b398f98f64ed49
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
9a70a1533504ef0f
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no