Column Shaft
Unknown Artist
ca. 1130–1140
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
Overall: 35 5/8 x 9 1/8 in. (90.5 x 23.2 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Architectural
Culture
Catalan
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1925
Accession Number
25.120.854
Art Historical Context
This elegant marble column shaft, hailing from Catalonia around 1130–1140, the robust architectural sculpture of the Romanesque period. Carved from high-quality stone, it measures 35⅝ × 9⅛ inches (90.5 × 23.2 cm), forming a essential structural element likely from a church or monastery in the region. Catalan Romanesque art, flourishing in the rugged Pyrenees, emphasized durable materials like marble for columns that supported grand portals and naves, blending functionality with subtle sculptural finesse. Dating to the early 12th century, this piece reflects the cultural zenith of medieval Cat...