God the Father

Artists

Description

The embossed relief represents God the Father or possibly Christ. He is seated, raising His right hand in a gesture of blessing, while His left grasps a book that rests on His knee. The halo has incised lines to indicate rays of light. The background is decorated with an incised lozenge pattern, the alternate compartments of which have been punchecd with an allover dot ornament. Much of the gilding has been worn off. That which remains appears to be original. Six small holes on the edge of the relief were used to attach it to its background. The forehead is slightly dented.

Dimensions

sight: 8.1 x 6.3 x 1.5 cm (3 3/16 x 2 1/2 x 9/16 in.)

Provenance

Ottmar Strauss, Cologne, sold [through Hugo Helbing, Frankfurt, November 6-8, 1934, lot 99]. [1] [Mathias Komor, New York], sold; to Busch-Reisinger Museum, December 1958 Notes [1] According to an annotated version of the Hugo Helbing sale catalogue the work was sold to “Whilling.” [2] In March 2023, Harvard University reached an agreement with the Ottmar Strauss Heirs allowing the Harvard Art Museums to retain the bronze relief that was sold in Frankfurt in 1934.