Double Capital
Unknown Artist
late 13th–early 14th century
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
Overall: 21 1/2 x 15 x 12 in. (54.6 x 38.1 x 30.5 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Architectural
Culture
French
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1925
Accession Number
25.120.754
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Double Capital*, a masterful marble sculpture from late 13th- to early 14th-century, now gracing The Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Carved from enduring white marble, this architectural element measures 21½ x 15 x 12 inches and represents the crowning tops of columns—likely paired for a Gothic structure. Its "double" form suggests it supported coupled columns, a common feature in medieval churches and cathedrals, where capitals transitioned smoothly from sturdy shafts to soaring arches. Crafted during the height of French Gothic architecture, this piece exemplifies t...