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Summer Session Kansan Friday, June 24, 1966
14th century ivory carving is now in KU museum
The Museum of Art has acquired an ivory carving, a delicate 14th century French four-scene panel from a jewel casket that depicts a medieval romance, "La Chatelaine de Verger."
Ivory carvings are among the chief art relies that bear witness to things that men may have cherished in the Dark Ages.
Several reasons are given for the preservation of these artistic treasures: ivory, unlike gold, was not subjected to the melting pot for bullion, and vandals, because
Mrs. Winslow wins grant
Mrs. Marcia Ring Winslow, graduate student in geology from Boston, has received the Pan-American Petroleum Foundation Faculty Doctoral Fellowship for 1966-67. The fellowship, which provides a stipend of $300 a month for up to 12 months, plus tuition and fees, is designated for a present or future teacher who is within one year of the Ph.D. degree in either geology or chemical engineering. The recipient must show exceptional scholastic achievement and promise as a college professor.
of the small size of many ivory carvings, overlooked these treasures, or simply failed to see in them any inherent value.
BRET WALLER, associate director of the museum, said the KU carving is unusual, not only because of the beauty of the "graceful and well-balanced figures" but because it depicts a secular theme — a medieval French romance—whereas most ivory carvings of the Dark Ages dealt with religious themes, and usually in the form of a diptych, a pair of plaques hinged together, that when folded form a kind of book, or triptych, a "book" of plaques with a center panel, used in the church for liturgical purposes or for religious instruction to the laity, since at this time few people could read.
Jewel caskets, snuff boxes, combs, fans, and mirror frames, are a few of the items that were chosen whenever a high standard of luxury demanded an article costly in appearance or possessing inherent beauty, and medieval poems of romance, such as "La Chatelaine de Vergy" provided an artist with material rich in
inspiration for a carving in ivory.
The French poem tells the story of Chatelaine of Vergy, niece of the Duke of Burgundy, who falls in love with a knight, one of the Duke's vassals. Unfortunately, the Duchess also loved the knight, but he, faithful to Chatelaine, does not return her love.
REBUFFED, FRUSTRATED and angry, the Duchess tells her husband that the knight has made improper advances to her. The panel in the museum depicts the next portion of the story in four scenes. The first scene shows the humiliated knight, who when confronted by the Duke with his wife's accusation, acknowledges his love of Chatelaine. Next, the Duke is shown watching the young lovers.
The third scene takes place in the bedroom, where the Duke and Duchess discuss the knight and Chatelaine. The Duke doesn't realize that his wife is, in fact, in love with the knight, and is persuaded by her to invite Chatelaine to a party in the castle.
THE FOURTH AND LAST scene of the panel shows the
Chatelaine at her castle door accepting the invitation from the court messenger. One cannot help being astonished at the expression and minute detail the artist has carved in the ivory. Such detail is illustrated on the invitation in that not only the seal, but the lion on the seal is clearly visible.
During a dance at the party, Chatelaine is affronted by her rival, the Duchesse, who "hints" that the knight is unfaithful. Brokenhearted,Chatelaine flees to her chamber,and dies.Upon finding her,the knight kills himself.The duke deals justice to
his evil wife by beheading her. He becomes a Templar, and goes with the Crusades to the Holy Land, and is never heard of again.
The Louvre and the Pierpont Morgan Collection have caskets that tell the story of "La Chate laine de Vergy." The KU carving is compared to the one in the Loure by New York Raymond Koechlin, in his catalogue of French Gothic ivories, but he specified that the KU panel is "very superior' especially in the elegance of the figures, the expressiveness of the gestures, and the fineness of the carving."
ONE DAY ONLY
Monday, June 27 LONDON GRAFICA ARTS
presents an exhibition and sale of original lithographs, etchings, wood cuts
Daumier
Corinth
Carzou
Renoir
Dufy
Chagall
Rouault
Maillol
Toulouse-Lautrec
Cassatt
Picasso
Van Dongen
and many others moderately priced
South Lounge, Student Union
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KIEF'S RECORD & STEREO
Malls Shopping Center
Summer Fun Sale
ALL
BILL COSBY
L.P.'s
$2.72
Diamond Needle Sale $5.95
The GASLIGHT is open... AIR-CONDITIONED Next door to the Union
Cold Refreshing BEER—Glasses-Pitchers-Cans-Bottles-Quarts
Pitcher Hours-Wednesday & Friday-1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Featuring Pitchers at 65c
King Size Tasty Sandwiches - French Fries
SPEEDY SERVICE
Beer To Go Amusement Machines "Relax in Cool Comfort'
Onion Rings The Latest Records
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