Images(2)

St. Anastasius

Object NameWall Panel

Artist Gerhard Ribka (German, b. 1955)

Made FromNon-lead Float Glass, Enamel, Stains, Lead, Wood, Lead came

Date1992

Place MadeUnited Kingdom, Lincoln

TechniqueCut, Enameled, Stained, Lustred, Leaded, Assembled, Fired

SizeOverall H: 46.6 cm, W: 60.3 cm

Accession Number94.2.8

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Exhibitions

Of Coloured Light

On ViewBen W. Heineman Sr. Family Gallery of Contemporary Glass.

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Here, a traditional religious subject, the depiction of a saint, is given a contemporary treatment. The simple figures and awkward composition relate this work to that of painters such as Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró, who were inspired by children’s art. Saint Anastasius was a Persian magician who converted to Christianity and became a monk. While traveling in Turkey, he was captured by the Persians. Refusing to renounce Christianity, Anastasius was strangled in 628. His body was thrown to the dogs, but they left it untouched.

Physical DescriptionColorless non-lead sheet glass, translucent blue, brown, amber, orange, opaque black, glass enamels, lustres and silver stain, lead came, wood frame; cut from enameled, lustred, and silver stained sheet glass, assembled, brushed with brown enamel, fired, final assembly with lead. Horizontal rectangular panel with overall painterly effect and loose brushwork; background of small squares forming a grid of stained mottled blue/gray/brown, foreground depicts at left a narrow vertical section of brown extending from base of panel to top butted up to a large vertical white rectangle (enamel treatment creating frosted appearance) with top side angling up toward right, to the right and resting on base line a stylized whitish figure with halo, arms crossed in front, appearing bound, legs bent upward from waist at right angle closely placed to hind legs of a small horse with yellow and light orange stained body rearing up on back legs, tail extended over figure, facing right edge of panel; overall brushed black details; wide wooden frame stained black.
Provenance

Source Gerhard Ribka (German, b. 1955) - 1994-05-13