Glass vessels engraved with narrative scenes were a specialty of the Rhine River region. They were used as drinking vessels and often buried with their owner. This bowl depicts Christ’s raising of Lazarus from the dead, as is evident from the burial wrappings on the figure and the tomb door, which Christ cast aside. It was found in a Christian sarcophagus in Sicily along with several coins, testimony to the export of these vessels as far away as the Mediterranean Sea.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Open Access
As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.
API
Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
Artwork Details
Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item
Title:Glass Dish with an Engraving of the Raising of Lazarus
Date:4th–5th century
Culture:Late Roman
Medium:Green Glass, engraved
Dimensions:Overall: 9 7/16 x 1 1/2 in. (24 x 3.8 cm)
Classification:Glass-Vessels
Credit Line:Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number:17.190.492
Found in Sambuca-Zabut, Sicily.; [ Galleria Sangiorgi, Rome (sold 1911)]; J. Pierpont Morgan (American), London and New York (1911–1913); Estate of J. Pierpont Morgan(1913–1917)
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Age of Spirituality: Late Antique and Early Christian Art, Third to Seventh Century," November 19, 1977–February 12, 1978.
Fleury, Edouard. Antiquités et Monuments du Département de l'Aisne. France archéologique. Paris: J. Claye, 1877. p. 158.
Eck, Théophile. "Le Cimetière Gallo-Romain de Vermand (Aisne)." Bulletin archéologique du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques (1887). pp. 187–188, 194–195.
LeBlant, Edmond. "Note sur une coupe de verre gravé dècouverte en Sicile." In Mèlanges d'archéologie et d'histoire. Vol. 8. Paris, 1888. p. 213–214, pl. 4.
Pilloy, Jules. Études sur d'anciens lieux de sépulture dans l'Aisne. Vol. 2. Paris, 1895. p. 158, ill.
Collection du feu prof. Prospero Sarti: As romains; monnaies consulaires; monnaies et médaillons de l'empire en argent et bronze, etc. Vente à partir de lundi 7 mai 1906... à l'hotel de ventes G. Sangiorgi. Rome: Galleria Sangiorgi, May 5–7, 1906. no. 396, p. 67, pl. XXIV.
Breck, Joseph, and Meyric R. Rogers. The Pierpont Morgan Wing: A Handbook. 1st ed. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1925. p. 41.
Fremersdorf, Fritz. "Die farblosen Gläser der Frühzeit in Köln, 2. und 3. Jahrhundert." In Die Denkmäler des römischen Köln: herausgegeben von der Archäologischen Gesellschaft und dem Römisch-Germanischen Museum Köln. Vol. 9. Berlin: Archäologischen Gesellschaft und dem Römisch-Germanischen Museum Köln, 1928.
Fremersdorf, Fritz. Römische Gläser aus Köln : ein kurzer Überblick über die Bestände der Römischen Abteilung des Wallraf-Richartz-Museums. Museum und Öffentlichkeit, Vol. 7. 2nd ed. Cologne: Kölner Verlags-Anstalt und Druckerei, 1928.
Breck, Joseph, and Meyric R. Rogers. The Pierpont Morgan Wing: A Handbook. 2nd ed. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1929. p. 41.
Neuss, Wilhelm. Die Anfänge des Christentums im Rheinlande. Rheinische Neujahrsblätter. Bonn: L. Röhrscheid, 1933.
Metropolitan Museum of Art. A Special Exhibition of Glass from the Museum Collections. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1936. p. 18, fig. 15.
Fremersdorf, Fritz. Figürlich geschliffene Gläser : eine Kölner Werkstatt des 3. Jahrhunderts. Römisch-germanische Forschungen, Vol. 19. Berlin: W. de Gruyter & Co, 1951.
Weitzmann, Kurt, ed. Age of Spirituality: Late Antique and Early Christian Art, Third to Seventh Century. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1979. no. 404, pp. 444–45.
Caron, Beaudoin. "Roman Figure-Engraved Glass in The Metropolitan Museum of Art." Metropolitan Museum Journal 32 (1997). p. 35, fig. 39, 40.
The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.
The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.
