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Byzantine Art :
Byzantine Masterpieces : Byzantine Bronze Medallion with a Bust of John the Baptist
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Byzantine Bronze Medallion with a Bust of John the Baptist - X.0090
Origin: Mediterranean
Circa: 10
th
Century AD
to 12
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
1.875" (4.8cm) high
Collection: Byzantine Art
Medium: Bronze
Additional Information: HK
£9,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
Saint John the Baptist, believed to be the
precursor and cousin of Christ, emerged after
many years of self-teaching in the desert to
prepare people for the coming of the Messiah, as
prophesied in the Old Testament. He led an
ascetic life, like the Old Testament prophets, and
spent years preaching the importance of
penitence, baptizing the faithful in the Jordan
River. John’s work culminated in his baptism of
Jesus. Soon afterward, John was imprisoned for
angering Herod Antipas, the Judean ruler, by
denouncing him for marrying Herodias, the wife
of his half-brother Herod. At the request of
Salome, daughter of Herodias and Herod, St. John
was decapitated.
This beautiful Byzantine bronze medallion is
decorated with an incised image of John the
Baptist. His hands are held in front of his chest;
his right hand grasps a scroll while his left forms
a gesture of blessing. He features the long, curly
hair and full beard that is consistent with his
typical depiction as an ascetic withdrawn from
civilization. A halo, defined by two concentric
circles, reveals his saintly nature. Greek letters
inscribed on either side of him confirm his
identity. “IW O A PR” are an abbreviation for,
“Ioanos O Agios Prodromos,” or, “John the Holy
Forerunner.” This inscription further defines John
as the precursor of Christ. A medallion such as
this one would have probably been the prized
possession of a faithful, yet affluent, individual
during the latter days of the Byzantine Empire
who sought to invoke god’s divine favor by
carrying this work. Today, it remains a
testament to an age of great piety and religious
fervor during which some of the most striking
works of art in the Christian tradition were
produced.
- (X.0090)
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