168. Head of an Old Testament Queen (Saba) from

Saint-Denis Abbey Church, c. 1137-1140. Limestone,

height: 36.5 cm. Musée national du Moyen

Age-Thermes et hôtel de Cluny, Paris. Romanesque.

 

 

This sculpture relief from the west side of the Saint Denis Cathedral in Paris was most likely commissioned by Suger in the mid-twelfth century and it is thought to be a representation of the Queen of Sheba. The different stylistic attributes are similar to that of the sculpture relief at the Autun Cathedral in Burgundy. The stylistic features include deeply bored pupils, undulating strands of hair as well as a crown with a border enhanced by a strand of pearl set with cabochons. The head is set into a headband on each side of the centre parting of the hair which falls into narrow hair strands surrounding the face. Her bulging eyes protrude from narrow eyelids and are set into deep sockets emphasizing the eyebrows. The nose is straight and her lips are clearly defined. Although the sculpture is broken on the right side from the mid section of the crown, its aesthetic strength still remains untouched.