“L’Aigle de Suger” : un faucon plutôt qu’un aigle

The quality and precision of the goldsmith work known as the “Suger’s Eagle” lead to question the identity of the bird taken as a model for this precious zoomorph ewer. A set of anatomical features, foremost among which is the tomial tooth of the beak, the shape of the latter and of the head, the co...

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Kaydedildi:
Detaylı Bibliyografya
Yazar: Prodon, Roger
Materyal Türü: Article ou chapitre numérique
Dil:Français
Baskı/Yayın Bilgisi: 2020
Online Erişim:Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM
Diğer Bilgiler
Özet:The quality and precision of the goldsmith work known as the “Suger’s Eagle” lead to question the identity of the bird taken as a model for this precious zoomorph ewer. A set of anatomical features, foremost among which is the tomial tooth of the beak, the shape of the latter and of the head, the complication of the nostril, and the shape of the wings, identify this bird as a falcon. This is surprising because in the Middle Ages the falcon is associated with hunting and pleasure and does not have the Christic, apostolic or imperial symbolism of the eagle, which would have been better adapted to the religious context of Suger’s abbey church. Nevertheless, the precision of the anatomical details of this piece contrasts with the poor accuracy of the numerous medieval representations of birds of prey, and leads to the assumption that this exceptional work is based on direct observation of a real bird. Such a preoccupation with realism illustrates one of the characteristics of the emerging Gothic art, a greater attention given to nature.