Double Column
Unknown Artist
13th–14th century
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
a: Capital: 17 1/4 × 24 5/8 × 17 in., 319 lb. (43.8 × 62.5 × 43.2 cm, 144.7 kg) b: Base: 8 1/8 in. × 20 in. × 11 1/2 in. (20.6 × 50.8 × 29.2 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Architectural
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1916
Accession Number
16.32.10a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of medieval French architecture with *Double Column*, a striking marble sculpture from the th–14th century This architectural element consists of a finely carved capital (17¼ × 24⅝ × 17 inches, weighing 319 pounds) paired with a sturdy base (8⅛ × 20 × 11½ inches), exemplifying the precision and grandeur of Gothic-era stonework. Likely salvaged from a grand cathedral or abbey, it showcases the era's mastery in sculpting durable, load-bearing supports that blended function with ornate beauty. In 13th–14th century France, during the height of Gothic innovation, columns like t...