WINDOW ON VENETO-BYZANTINE ART: CLAUSTRAS WITH THE TREE OF LIFE
"To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the paradise of God". (Rev. 2:7)
Openings played an important role in medieval architecture from the High Middle Ages onwards. These openwork stone or marble windows, also known as claustras or transoms, can be found in both Christian and Byzantine art. After the Western Roman Empire came under Byzantine rule, the Veneto region was equally influenced by Visigothic art from Ravenna, Christian art and Eastern art, particularly Byzantine, giving rise to what has been called Veneto-Byzantine art.
The two monumental claustras in white marble that we will be presenting at our next Haute Époque sale are a perfect example of this Venetian-Byzantine art, which is the source of some remarkable artistic masterpieces.
The Tree of Life is often interpreted as a symbol of fertility, regeneration and immortality. It represents eternal life and the connection between the earthly world and the divine. In Byzantine iconography, the Tree of Life is associated with Paradise, the Garden of Eden and the presence of God. It is most often surrounded by birds, flowers and other elements of nature, such as lions and peacocks, reinforcing the symbolism of vitality and prosperity.
The use of the Tree of Life in Venetian iconography bears witness to the influence of Byzantine art on the culture and aesthetics of Venice.
The subject of the Tree of Life is usually depicted in more or less elaborate bas-reliefs, but its expression in clerestories is particularly rare, and the only other comparable instance is on the occulo of the Basilica of Santa Maria in the Abbey of Pomposa near Venice (illustrated below).
Related works :
Bas-relief from the Castello di Monselice near Venice.
12th century
Bas-relief inside the Duomo, Island of Torcello, Venice.
5th century
Claustra from the Basilica of Santa Maria in Pomposa Abbey (Italy).
13th century
Next sale
Thursday 15 June 2023
Aguttes Neuilly
For further information, please contact
Grégoire de Thoury
+33 1 41 92 06 46
thoury@aguttes.com