The Salerno Ivories Objects, Histories, Contexts

by Cutler, Anthony; Dell'Acqua, Francesca; Kessler, Herbert L.; Shalem, Avinoam; Wolf, Gerhard

• ISBN13: 9783786127307
• ISBN10: 3786127301
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-12-01
• Publisher: Dietrich Reimer Verlag GmbH

Summary

The so-called Salerno ivories are comprised of more than 60 carved plaques datable between 11th and the 12th centuries, and they combine Islamic, Byzantine, Coptic, and western Christian features. They present superb craftsmanship and display numerous biblical scenes as well as portraits of saints and magnificent decorative ornaments. One of the most precious and impressive treasures of the cathedral of Salerno, they remain enigmatic as many questions remain concerning their date, place of production, patronage, function, and possible audience. This volume brings together articles written by scholars from various backgrounds and perspectives on medieval art. It presents the Salerno ivories in an interdisciplinary approach and sheds new light on the many unsolved questions about production techniques, specific iconographies, function and reception in the Norman cathedral of Salerno, and the ensemble’s important position in mirroring the visual culture of the Mediterranean at the age of intense commercialism and cultural exchange.

Author Biography

Anthony Cutler is the Evan Pugh professor of art history at the Pennsylvania State University. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania. Francesca Dell’Acqua is an assistant professor of medieval art at the University of Salerno. Herbert L. Kessler is a former professor at Johns Hopkins University and a fellow at the Medieval Academy of America. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Avinoam Shalem is the Riggio professor of the arts of Islam at the Columbia University. He lives in New York City. Gerhard Wolf is the head of Max-Planck-Institut, an art history institute in Florence, Italy.