Original scientific paper
A Type of Corinthianized Capital on the Island of Brač
Vanja Kovačić
; Konzervatorski odjel Ministarstva kulture u Splitu
Abstract
This article analyses two capitals from the parish church in Škrip and the Brač Island Museum in Škrip, which up to now have been classified among the sculptural works of the 15th century. The diversity of the plant images, the meticulous craftsmanship, and above all inconsistencies in respect of the canons of the Corinthian Order pointed researchers in the direction of the Gothic-Renaissance stylistic definitions and workshops in 15th-century Dalmatia.
A more detailed study of the decoration of the known Brač capitals, alongside new findings from Mirje, has shown the previous stylistic attribution to be incorrect. It is now certain that these two are Roman Corinthianized capitals produced from the Roman quarry near Škrip. Whereas Corinthian capitals had a double row of acanthus leaves, the Corinthianized capitals carved by the Brač stonemasons had a freer choice of plant motifs: acanthus leaves alternated with palmettes, various spiky grasses, buds and roses.
A group of western-produced Corinthianized capitals in Rome has been dated from the late Julio-Claudian era to the beginning of the Flavian period. In the provinces, the style lasted right up to the second half of the 2nd century and the beginning of the 3rd century. The Roman stone workshops on Brač developed their own local interpretation of this stylistic paradigm.
Keywords
Corinthian Order Capital; Brač; acanthus leaves; stonemasons
Hrčak ID:
201714
URI
Publication date:
30.5.2017.
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