Abram Being Presented with Bread and Wine by Melchizedek
- School of
- Pierre Courteys, French, c.1520–c.1586
- Date
- c.1580
- Material
- Enamel on copper
- made in
- Limoges, Limousin region, France, Europe
- Classification
- Enamels, metalwork
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 3 3/8 x 7 5/8 in. (8.6 x 19.4 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Lopata
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 220:1986
NOTES
Originally part of a box, this plaque features Abram (Abraham’s name before his covenant with God) and King Melchizedek. According to Genesis chapter 14 (identified along the central upper edge of the plaque), after enemy raids on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram led 318 soldiers to rescue captives and recover their belongings. Here, Melchizedek offers the soldiers bread and wine upon their victorious return, an Old Testament prefiguration of the Eucharist (or Mass) presented in the New Testament.
Provenance
1971 - 1986
Stanley Lopata (d.2003) and Lucy Lopata, St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at Sotheby's, London, March 23, 1971, lot no. 53, through James Trigg, Esq. [1]
1986 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Stanley and Lucy Lopata [2]
Notes:
[1] Invoice to Mr. Lopata from James Trigg dated April 15, 1971 [SLAM document files]. When Mr. and Mrs. Lopata gave the enamel to the Museum, Mr. Lopata reconfirmed the acquisition of the enamel from the 1971 auction [handwritten notes on Museum receipt letter dated December 3, 1986, SLAM document files]. The sales catalogue does not list the name or location of the previous owner ["Catalogue of Medieval Works of Art...", Sotheby's, London, March 23, 1971, lot no. 53, pp. 26-27].
[2] See note [1]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 18, 1986.
Stanley Lopata (d.2003) and Lucy Lopata, St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at Sotheby's, London, March 23, 1971, lot no. 53, through James Trigg, Esq. [1]
1986 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Stanley and Lucy Lopata [2]
Notes:
[1] Invoice to Mr. Lopata from James Trigg dated April 15, 1971 [SLAM document files]. When Mr. and Mrs. Lopata gave the enamel to the Museum, Mr. Lopata reconfirmed the acquisition of the enamel from the 1971 auction [handwritten notes on Museum receipt letter dated December 3, 1986, SLAM document files]. The sales catalogue does not list the name or location of the previous owner ["Catalogue of Medieval Works of Art...", Sotheby's, London, March 23, 1971, lot no. 53, pp. 26-27].
[2] See note [1]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 18, 1986.