UNKNOWN ROMANESQUE MASTER, sculptor
(13th century)

Christ and Two Donators

c. 1230
White marble, 67 x 120 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapet

The master who produced the 13th-century relief decorating the portal of the Church of Szentkirály in Vas county must have been familiar with North Italian-Lombardian sculpture; the similarity in style is also underlined by geographical location of the old church. The couple - the donors - shown with the enthroned Redeemer in the "tympanum" represent a type which can be found on a number of Hungarian buildings: in Bátmonostor, Sopronhorhorpács and Mosonszolnok. The figure of the couple donating money for the erection of the church is fitted into the arched composition with great skill. The two members of the Vas county nobility hold in their hands the model of the church and the bottom of a pillar; they wear period-costumes, and the expression on their faces is idealized, rather than portrait-like. The representation of the Enthroned Redeemer is Byzantine in origin, and the archaic arrangement of the drapery reminds the viewer of the 13th-century Maiestas Domini representations.

The stoneslab was found during the demolition of the church at Szentkirály in 1875. The very high quality relief shows similarity principally to the works of Italian workshops (like that of Benedetto Antelami).


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