Saint Cornelius

Place of OriginGermany

Date1350-1400

Dimensions10 1/4 × 5 1/8 × 4 1/4 in. (26 × 13 × 10.8 cm)
with hat: 11 1/2 × 5 1/8 × 4 1/4 in. (29.2 × 13 × 10.8 cm)

Mediumpartly gilded silver

ClassificationMetalwork

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Florence Scott Libbey Bequest in Memory of her Father, Maurice A. Scott

Object number

1962.68

Not on View

Label TextThis reliquary statuette represents Saint Cornelius, who was ordained the bishop of Rome, or pope, in 251. He holds in his right hand one of his attributes, a horn, cornu in Latin, in reference to his name. The crosier, or bishop’s staff, identifies his episcopal rank, as does the tiara surmounted with a cross (likely a later replacement). The cult of Saint Cornelius was especially popular in regions along the Rhine River, particularly near Aachen, Germany, where the relic of the saint’s head resided.Published References

Palustre, Léon, (joint author), La Collection Spitzer, Paris, etc., 1890, vol. I, no. 94, p. 126. (Attribution given as German, beginning of 15th century).

Molinier, Emile, L'Orfeverie religieuse et civile du Vé à la fin du XVe siècle, Paris, 1902, repr. p. 277.

Riefstahl, Rudolf M., "Medieval Art," Toledo Museum News, New Series, vol. 7, no. 1, Spring 1964, p. 16, repr. (also published as Medieval Art).

Riefstahl, Rudolf M., "What is Conservation," Toledo Museum News, New Series, vol. 8, no. 3, Autumn 1965, pp. 51-67, repr. p. 58 (also published as handbook).

"Medieval Art at Toledo: A Selection," Apollo, vol. 86, no. 70, December 1967, p. 443, repr. (b&w) fig. 15.

Toledo Museum of Art, A Guide to the Collections, Toledo, 1966, repr.

Gorney, Michaelene, "Musical Instruments: Brasses," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, vol. 20, no. 4, 1978, p. 105, repr. fig. 15.

Exhibition History

Frankfurt, Kunstgewerbe Museum, Austellung Alter, Goldschmeide Arbeiten aus Frankfurter Privat-besitz u. Kirchen-Schaetzen, 1914, June-Sept., no. 66.

Toledo Museum of Art, Treasures for Toledo, Dec. 1964-Jan. 1965.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Réau, Louis, Iconographie de l'Art Chrétien, Paris, 1958, vol. III, part I, pp. 227ff. (describes cult of St. Blaise). Cf. von Falke, O., R. Schmidt, and G. Swarzenski, The Guelph Treasure, Frankfurt, 1930, no. 82, p. 218, pl. 107 (wooden statuette similar to TMA figure). Cf. Kirsch, J.P., "Blaise," The Catholic Encyclopedia, New York, 1913, vol. II, p. 592.