Saint Tamara

Sculpture

-

Purdue University Galleries

Name/Title

Saint Tamara

Entry/Object ID

2005.02.002

Description

Carved wooden relief miniature with oval frame, covered with glass and backed with rust colored velvet. In this carving, Saint Tamar[a] (or Queen Tamara of Georgia) is shown with a sort of miter crown, maphorion veil, and a priest's epitrachelion/ stole. Her hands are clasped over her chest and a halo is situated behind her head. Cyrillic Russian captions flank either side of her which were added by hand after the completion of the carving.

Artwork Details

Medium

Wood

Collection

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2005.02

Source or Donor

Betsy Scheuring

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1900

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Icon

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

2-13/16 in

Width

2-1/8 in

Exhibition

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

St. Tamara, also called “Right-believing Tamara, Queen of Georgia,” was born around the year 1165. She became queen at the age of 24, and ruled so wisely that her reign is known as the Golden Age in Georgian history. She was very pious and promoted the growth of Christianity, building many churches and monasteries. Under her leadership the Georgian army defeated a coalition of Moslem rulers in a great battle near Basiani. This small, rather delicate carving shows her with a crown and a long scarf. She is wearing an elaborately decorated cloak, and her arms are folded in a gesture of humility. The oval frame surrounds her like a mandorla.