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Victoria and Albert Museum
A Pope

A Pope, ca. 1230-1250

A Pope

ca. 1230-1250 · Statuette

May one see it?

Not receiving at present

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 7 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum's own collection data

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

This is a statuette depicting a Pope in high relief. It was made in France, perhaps Paris, about 1230-1250. Despite its small size, the figure closely resembles monumental cathedral sculpture of the High Gothic and perhaps formed part of a larger composition. This is suggested by the flattened back and the remains of a dowel and pin showing that it was intended to be fixed to a background.

The figure's original context remains enigmatic. Ivory reliefs of individual Saints are extremely rare, and it may be that the present figure was mounted in a niche on a relinquary shrine. The identity of this particular pope-saint is also a mystery.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Particulars

Accession number: A.8-1914

What it shows

In the catalog

Sources

Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 7 days ago
Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Neighbors at Victoria and Albert Museum

Statuette, Johann Joachim Kändler, late 18th century

design by Johann Joachim Kaendler, manufactured by Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH

Statuette, late 18th century

Figurine, 700-800

Figurine, 700-800

Buddha Sakyamuni, 9th century-10th century

Buddha Sakyamuni, 9th century-10th century

Jina Parsvanatha, Chakravarti Paloja, late 12th century - early 14th century

Chakravarti Paloja

Jina Parsvanatha, late 12th century - early 14th century

Figurine, 1127-1279, or later

Figurine, 1127-1279, or later

Seated Buddha, early 3rd century

Seated Buddha, early 3rd century

Figure, 618-907

Figure, 618-907

Ghiberti: design for a mosaic in the Museum (the 'Kensington Valhalla'), Edward Henry Wehnert, mid 1860s

Edward Henry Wehnert

Ghiberti: design for a mosaic in the Museum (the 'Kensington Valhalla'), mid 1860s

A Pope · ART WIKI