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Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)
Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)
Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)

Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view2_PS2.jpg)

Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view2_PS2.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.55.2.3_unearthing_coptic.jpg)

Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.55.2.3_unearthing_coptic.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_transp5406.jpg)

Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_transp5406.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_bw.jpg)

Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_bw.jpg)

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Bust of a Saint

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

It is probable that these four examples of Christian art were made for religious buildings rather than tombs. The capital, which would have decorated the top of a small column, has slots to hold the walls of a chapel. The bust of an unnamed saint, shown blessing his viewers, may represent the patron saint of a church or monastery. The pair of reliefs shows saints who are little known today. St. Sissinios is apparently shown killing his sister, whose daughter had been taken over by the devil. St. Thekla, who was converted to Christianity by St. Paul, is being martyred by two crudely rendered lions.
This text refers to these objects: 55.2.3; 40.299; 40.300; 43.55
CULTURE Coptic
MEDIUM Limestone, pigment
  • Place Made: Egypt
    • DATES 4th–5th century C.E.
    PERIOD Late Antique Egyptian Period
    DIMENSIONS 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 55.2.3
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Coptic. Bust of a Saint, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Coptic. <em>Bust of a Saint</em>, 4th–5th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 10 15/16 x 4 1/8 in. (21 x 27.8 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.2.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.2.3_view1_PS2.jpg)

    TAGS

    Chritsian
    Coptic
    Egypt
    relief
    sculpture
    bust
    saint
    frontal
    stone
    limestone
    paint
    Egyptian
    4th-5th century C.E.

    TAGS

    Chritsian
    Coptic
    Egypt
    relief
    sculpture
    bust
    saint
    frontal
    stone
    limestone
    paint
    Egyptian
    4th-5th century C.E.

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