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Egyptian Antiquities :
Archive : Coptic Limestone Panel Depicting a Man
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Coptic Limestone Panel Depicting a Man - X.0372
Origin: Egypt
Circa: 300
AD
to 500
AD
Dimensions:
17" (43.2cm) high
x 10.75" (27.3cm) wide
Collection: Egyptian
Medium: Limestone
Additional Information: HK, sold. Art logic-l'etoile d'Ishtar (Paris) 2003
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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The term "Copt" originally referred to
the native
Egyptians, as opposed to the Greek or
Arab
invaders. While later "Copt" became a
religious
designation referring to Christian
Egyptians, the
Coptic period is defined as the first
millennium
of the Christian era, when Christianity
thrived in
Egypt. Ideally situation at the join of
three
continents, Coptic artists drew
inspiration from
the many influences: the forms and
motifs of
ancient Egypt, classical and Hellenistic
Greece
and Rome, Near Eastern art; and
contemporary
life in the Nile Valley. Although
Coptic art is
generally associated with Christianity,
many of
its motifs are distinctly non-Christian,
such as
Bacchanal scenes, pastoral compositions
inspired
by classical poetry, and groups of
nereids and
maenads frequently represented on
textiles. The
style of Coptic art evolved from the
late antique
art of Egypt, retaining Greek and Roman
influences. Economic conditions
doubtless
played a major role in the emergence of
a freer,
more popular style of art; the lack of
an
extensive patronage system is evident in
many
aspects of Coptic art, the emphasis on
more
personal, less monumental art, the
avoidance of
costly materials, and the dearth of
skilled
craftsmen with extensive training among
them.
The stylistic tendencies of Coptic art
move away
from a naturalistic rendering of the
human form
and features. Outline and detail are
simplified,
and the number of motifs is limited.
This limestone panel depicts a seated
man
framed by a thick rectangular border.
Likely, this
panel would have fit into a niche inside
of an
early church. The man sits with one leg
up and
one leg laying flat. He holds two
objects in his
hand: on the right, it appears to be a
bird of
some sorts, on the left, he seems to
hold a
bundle of grapes or a sack that features
such a
texture. On a religious level, the bird
might
symbolize the holy spirit while the
grapes could
stand for wine, thus indirectly
suggesting the
blood of Christ. The man wears a tunic
and a
necklace featuring a large central
circular
pendant. His facial features are
diminutive, save
for his large almond-shaped eyes. The
stylization of the carving reveals the
influence of
Greek and Roman art on the Copts.
However, it
is not the refined works of the
Classical and
Hellenistic era this work seems to
emulate, but
the rigid forms of the Archaic era
instead.
- (X.0372)
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