Head of an Apostle

c. 1210

This head probably comes from a full-length sculpture of one of the apostles flanking the portals of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. With its references to ancient and Byzantine models, it bears all the stylistic hallmarks of the beginning of the Gothic style. Medieval sculpture like this was purposely damaged in the 1790s during the French Revolution because of its presumed royal associations.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

French; Paris

Date

c. 1210

Medium

Limestone

Dimensions

H.: 43 cm (17 in.)

Origin

France

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Kate S. Buckingham Endowment