This artwork is known as "Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket, ca. 1173–80" (The piece ) (my sketch) and is made of silver with niello and a gemstone. The artist is unknown but the box is believed to be of English or German origin. The silver box was created to house a relic of the Saint Thomas Beckett. Its panels depict images of his death and ascension to heaven and subsequent sainthood. Thomas Beckett was the archbishop of Canterbury and quarreled with King Henry II. The king sent four of his knights to kill Beckett, but that just turned him into a martyr. Beckett remained beloved by the people and was named a saint. The box formal of the piece is effective because its many panels allow different facets of Beckett's story to be told. The edges of the box are golden in color and the scenes are etched in silver. t is topped with a red gem.
A reliquary is a container designed to create relics. These relics might be physical remains of religious figures such as body parts or things like shreds of their clothing. Relics have been an important part of many religions including Buddhism, Christianity, and Hinduism. Since relics were considered priceless for Christians, they were always made out of precious materials, like the silver in this one. Many were designed to be portable to they could travel and be shown to followers. Others had followers make pilgrimages to view them. Pieces such as this were important because they were all that was left of beloved religious figures.
Be sure you do more with the little picture- look at and cite specific examples of format, structure, language, etc. It will strengthen your analysis and provide more depth/ examination of effect in your big picture. Also- think about effect of choices (by the artist here) on the audience.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up interesting ideas that are missing the "so what?" !
DeleteI enjoy how you described the effectiveness of this piece today, since it tells stories of Thomas Becket's life. This piece is important because of its religious significance since Thomas Becket was a martyr of Catholicism. I agree with the way you discussed the materials with which the reliquary was built. The precious materials are a symbol of the importance and value that Thomas Becket had in his society. I believe that this piece was probably created in England because that is where Thomas Becket lived and I also researched a reliquary pendant of his that was created in England. However, the artist of the one I researched was unknown. I wonder if the two pieces were created by the same artist, since it was around the same time period. I also wonder how the piece has been so well preserved since the 12th century.
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