East of France, 16th century

East of France, 16th century
The Trinity or Throne of Grace
Group in limestone carved in appliqué.
Accidents and old restorations (especially dove and face of God the Father), fouling.
Restorations, especially dove and neck.
H. 81 L. 32,5 l. 20 cm

Related literature: Jenny Thouvenot, "La Sainte- Trinité", in Revue d'histoire de l'Eglise de France, year
1991, 198, pp.241-249.
The dogma of the Trinity, instituted in 325 at the Council of Nicaea, is the very foundation of Christian life. In 1334, a feast of the Trinity, fixed by John XXII, gave new impetus to Trinitarian piety and generated a particular iconography and the institution of many dedicated places of worship. This
cult spread especially in Brittany and in the east of France in Lorraine, Burgundy and Franche-Comté from the
end of the 15th century until the 17th century. Among the different variants appears the throne of grace as
our sculpture shows: God the Father wearing the papal tiara is seated on a throne (here a simple bench) and carries the cross
on which his Son is nailed. A dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, glides from its beard to the head of Christ.
This iconography of the throne of grace materializes the text from the Epistle to the Hebrews (4:16): "Jesus, the Son of God,
was tried in all points, in our likeness, but without sin. Let us therefore move forward with full assurance
to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to be helped in due time. »
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