BUST OF A KING

Brief description: Originally from Soissons Cathedral this medieval panel depicts a figure wearing a crown and a jewelled robe. It was produced in the thirteenth century by a French artist.

A stained glass panel of a bust of a monumental figure, wearing a crown, nimbus and jewelled robe, was probably a royal saint or Old Testament king. Predominantly rich red and blue. A medieval panel designed by a French artist. This monumental figure, wearing a crown and jewelled robe, was probably a royal saint or Old Testament king. The panel almost certainly comes from the side windows in the clerestory of the choir of Soissons Cathedral, which originally also contained enthroned figures of prophets and apostles in two tiers. The east window, showing the Tree of Jesse, Christ's family tree, was given by King Philip Augustus himself. Begun in the late 12th century and brought into use by 1212, the choir at Soissons was a key building in the evolution of the High Gothic architectural style and one of the very first cathedrals to include the giant figural stained-glass windows so characteristic of these great churches. Many of the windows were removed in the 19th century and then found their way into museum collections.

Object type: stained glass panel

Number of objects: 1

Production date: circa 1210

Production period: 13th century

Designer: French Artist

Dimensions: Height: 680 mm, Width: 925 mm

Original location: Soissons Cathedral Soissons France Side windows in the clerestory of the choir Soissons Cathedral

Acquisition: purchase 2003

Acquisition source: Fogg, Sam

Accession number: ELYGM:2003.3