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Cup: Moses Striking the Rock

 (French, act. 1550–1585)
Datelate 16th century
MediumPainted enamel on copper, partly gilded
DimensionsH.: 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm), diam.: 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Credit LineHenry Clay Frick Bequest
Accession number1916.4.38
Commentary

This cup (or tazza) is signed with the initials IC, probably a member of the Court family of Limoges enamelers, also known as Court dit Vigier and Vigier dit Court. The underside of this cup is decorated with arabesques in gold, strapwork in grisaille, and human masks with peach washes—all painted over dark enamel. The interior scenes are from the Book of Exodus after a woodcut by Bernard Salomon, in Quadrins historiques de la Bible. Here, Moses strikes the rock at Mount Horeb to produce water for the starving and thirsty Israelites.

Source: Vignon, Charlotte. The Frick Collection Decorative Arts Handbook. New York: The Frick Collection/Scala, 2015.

Collection History

Possibly Debruge-Duménil sale, January 23 et seq., 1850, Hôtel des Ventes, Paris, Lot 738. Frédéric Spitzer, Paris. His sale, April 17–June 16, 1893, 33 rue de Villejust, Paris, Lot 564. J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York. Duveen. Frick, 1916.

Source: Enamels, Rugs and Silver in The Frick Collection. Volume VIII. New York: The Frick Collection, 1977.

Not On View
View from the top of an enameled polychrome Ewer Stand showing Moses Striking the Rock
Workshop of Pierre Reymond
late 16th century
View taken from above of polychrome enameled cup depicting Lot and His Daughters
Master I.C.
late 16th century
Side view of polychrome enamel ewer depicting the Triumph of Bacchus and the Triumph of Diana
Master I.C.
late 16th century
Front view of enameled polychrome triptypch depicting The Way to Calvary; The Crucifixion; The …
Workshop of Master of the Large Foreheads
ca. 1510
Front image of polychrome enameled plaque depicting The Adoration of the Magi
Workshop of Master of the Large Foreheads
ca. 1510
Front view of polychrome enamel plaque depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds
Master IDC
late 16th or early 17th century
Black painted enamel dish with Jupiter on a chariot
Attributed to Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
mid 16th century
Black painted enamel dish depicting Saturn on a chariot
Attributed to Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
late 16th century
Painted enamel plaque of Jupiter under a canopy
Jean de Court (Master I.C.)
16th century
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