Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne
The so-called equestrian statuette of Charlemagne is a miniature equestrian statue, probably made in Metz in 870, possibly depicting Charlemagne , but which more likely shows his grandson Charlemagne . The work is now in the Musée du Louvre in Paris .
description
The statuette - which was previously gilded - is a 24 cm high bronze sculpture . It shows a stocky, mustache-bearded person in the form of a riding ruler crowned with a lily crown and carrying the globe as a symbol of power . The rider's coat is closed with a fibula . In his right hand he will most likely have carried a sword that has been lost in history. The figure is reminiscent of the type of medieval and here in particular Franconian regent as a travel king without a permanent residence, showing constant presence throughout the territory of his empire on his transit from royal palace to royal palace.
classification
As style studies show, the figure was probably cast around 870. The horse and the globe as a ruler attribute go back to ancient Roman models, which can only be proven since the time of Charles the Bald. It is possible that the figure was commissioned by him on the occasion of his coronation as King of Lotharingia in Metz. Up until the French Revolution , however , the equestrian statuette set up in Metz Cathedral was venerated as a reminiscence of Charlemagne. It seems reasonable to assume that Charlemagne was portrayed as the new Charlemagne.
history
The statuette can be traced back to the inventories of the treasure of Metz Cathedral since the 16th century. It was found there in 1807 by Alexandre Lenoir , founder of the Musée des Monuments français , and ended up in his private collection. From his estate it was sold to Madame Evans-Lombe, who showed it at the Paris World's Fair in 1855 and then sold it to the City of Paris. After being damaged by fire, the statuette was brought to the Musée Carnavalet , from where it was brought to the Louvre in 1934 (inventory number OA 8260).
literature
- Ernst aus'm Weerth : The equestrian statuette of Charlemagne from the Dome in Metz. In: Yearbooks of the Association of Altherthumsfreunden in the Rhineland 78, 1885, pp. 139–166.
- Karl Georg Wolfram: The equestrian statuette of Charlemagne from the cathedral at Metz. Karl J. Trübner, Strasbourg 1890.
- Michael Imhof , Christoph Winterer : Charlemagne. Life and impact, art and architecture. Imhof, Petersberg 2013, ISBN 978-3-932526-61-9 , pp. 183-185.
- Gunnar Heuschkel: Metz equestrian statuette. In: Frank Pohle (ed.): Charlemagne - Charlemagne. Places of power. Catalog. Catalog of the special exhibition Charlemagne - Places of Power from June 20 to September 21, 2014 in the coronation hall of Aachen city hall. Sandstein, Dresden 2014, ISBN 978-3-95498-091-8 , pp. 32–33 (with further literature).
Web links
- Long text on the pages of the Louvre.
- Brief description on the pages of the Louvre.
Individual evidence
- ^ Equestrian statuette of Charlemagne , Lebendigs Museum Online (accessed November 21, 2017)