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Source Description
This winged figure holding the head of a serpent that curls round its chest probably represents the virtue Prudence, in accordance with Jesus' words: "be wise as serpents. . ." (Matthew 10:16). Along with the divine virtues of "faith, hope, and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13), justice, fortitude, temperance, and prudence were considered during the Middle Ages to be the principal worldly virtues. This statuette must have been part of a set placed at the base of a portable altar, candlestick, or baptismal font. It closely resembles in style the early 12th-century bronze doors of the Church of Saint Zeno in Verona.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
37957
label
Prudence
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
37957
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Prudence
description
This winged figure holding the head of a serpent that curls round its chest probably represents the virtue Prudence, in accordance with Jesus' words: "be wise as serpents. . ." (Matthew 10:16). Along with the divine virtues of "faith, hope, and love" (1 Corinthians 13:13), justice, fortitude, temperance, and prudence were considered during the Middle Ages to be the principal worldly virtues. This statuette must have been part of a set placed at the base of a portable altar, candlestick, or baptismal font. It closely resembles in style the early 12th-century bronze doors of the Church of Saint Zeno in Verona.
provenance
Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., New York [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1135 (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
figurines
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
11.4
height
7.6
dimensionsRaw
4 1/2 x 3 in. (11.4 x 7.6 cm)
Source extras
cul
Italian
style
Romanesque
med
bronze
creator_ids
33562
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
1957
2177
2121
246
2752
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
898149ce966440a6
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
6675e769d7506b55
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no