Images: Index of Medieval Art; Wikimedia
Clavis number: ECMA 159
Other descriptors: Andreas Triptychon
Location: Trier Cathedral Treasury
Category: triptych
Related literature: Acts of Andrew, Acts of Andrew and Matthias, Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea, Miracles of Andrew by Gregory of Tours, Passion of Andrew, Golden Legend 2
Featured characters and locations: Aegeates (proconsul), Andrew (apostle), Matthias (apostle).
1. DESCRIPTION
Material: champlevé, enamel
Size: 37.4 × 43 cm
Left wing (from top): (1) Andrew (named) with scroll kneeling before cross with three male figures looking on and rays descending from Hand of God (inscription: Suscipe electa cruce humilem propter dominum). (2) Andrew with scroll before the proconsul Egeas (named), surrounded by three figures (inscriptions: Tu es Andreas, qui destruis templa deorum; Ego sum qui praedico verbum veritatis). (3) Andrew with scroll healing Matthew/Matthias (named) and rays descending from Hand of God (inscription: Aperi domine oculus servi tui).
Right wing (from top): (1) Two angels, holding open Gate of Paradise (inscribed as “porta coeli”) and rays descending from Hand of God. (2) Andrew bound to cross by two executioners (identified as Carnifices). Inscription above: Passio Sci Andreae. (3) Andrew preaching to group in archway of building (inscription: Hortor vos fratres ut didem vestram, quam super fundamenta Christi posuistis cruce fixi).
Date: ca. 1160; central panel dated 1605
Provenance: traditionally attributed to Godefroid de Claire, who is believed to have had a workshop in Maastricht.
2. RELATION TO APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE
Andrew contends with the proconsul Aegeas/Aegeates in all accounts of the martyrdom of Andrew and heals the sight of Matthias in various versions of the travels of Andrew in Myrmidonia. But most likely the direct influence on Godefroid de Claire is the summary of Andrew’s acts in the Golden Legend 2 (page references to the translation by William Granger Ryan; 2 vols.; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993). The second scene on the left wing of the triptych depicts Andrew before Aegeates; the short dialogue in the inscription alludes to Aegeates accusation against Andrew that he is preaching against the worship of idols (pp. 16–17; drawn from the Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea). The third scene depicts Andrew restoring sight to Matthew/Matthias (p. 14; drawn from the Acts of Andrew and Matthias). The three scenes on the right wing depict aspects of Andrew’s martyrdom, including his preaching to and about the cross (pp. 17–18; drawn, likely, from the Passion of Andrew or Epistle of the Presbyters and Deacons of Achaea).
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barbier de Montault, Xavier, and Léon Palustre. Le Trésor de Trèves. Paris: A. Picard, 1886 (pp. 17–19; pl. IX).
Braun, Joseph. Meisterwerke der deutschen Goldschmiedekunst. 2 vols. Munich: Riehn & Reusch, 1922 (vol. 1, pp. IX, 11–12; pl. 53).
Collon-Gevaert, Suzanne, Jean Lejeune, and Jacques Stiennon. Treasury of Romanesque Art: Metalwork, Illuminations and Sculpture from the Valley of the Meuse. New Yprk: Phaedon, 1972 (pp. 85, 210; pl. 28).
Cook, Walter W. S. “Earliest Panels of Catalonia (IV).” Art Bulletin 8.4 (1925–1926): 194–234 (pp. 216, 220, 224).
Hall, Ursula. The Cross of St. Andrew. Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2006 (pp. 23, 49).
Morgan, Nigel. “The Iconography of Twelfth century Mosan Enamels.” Pages 263–78 in vol. 2 of Rhein und Maas: Kunst und Kultur 800–1400. 2 vols. Cologne: Schnutgen-Museum, 1972–1973 (p. 270).
Rohault de Fleury, Charles. Les saints de la Messe et leurs monuments. 10 vols. Paris: Morel, 1883–1900 (vol. 5, p. 53; pl. CCCLXI).
Ronig, Franz. Schatzkunst Trier. Trier: Spee, 1984 (p. 113; fig. p. 113; pl. 5).
Weerth, Ernst Aus’m. Kunstdenkmäler des christlichen Mittelalters in den Rheinlanden. 3 vols. Leipzig: T. G. Weigel, 1857–1880 (pp. 84–85; pls. I–III, LVII).
4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
“Godefroid de Claire.” Wikipedia.
Entry created by Tony Burke, York University, 19 March 2024.