{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O312309"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312309/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EX8972/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EX8972/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EX8972","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX8973","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EX8994","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK4213","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O312309/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O312309","accessionNumber":"A.37-1949","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Charity","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This statuette in ivory was almost certainly made by Leonhard Kern in Germany in about 1620-1645. The group represents Charity. The head and figure type are closely analogous to other works by Kern, such as the <i>Three Graces</i>  in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart and the <i>Abundance</i> in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna as well as the <i>Abundance</i> in the V&amp;A's own collection (A.38-1949). The figure is probably an allegory of Charity, the child an indirect reference to the Christ child. The grapes represent earthly charity and also perhaps refer to the Eucharist.\n\nCharity (lat. Caritas), literally means 'love', love in the sense of lovingness and kindness towards all others and is the foremost of the virtues. Charity is often represented with a flame, often coming out of some kind of vase, or she holds a candle. Often she is suckling to infants, or she is surrounded by three to four infants, one usually at the breast.\r\n\nKern (1588-1662) trained under his brother Michael Kern (1580-1649) and then spent four years travelling mainly in Rome, Naples and Venice, though he also visited North Africa and Slovenia. His figures, often nudes, are distinctive in style, being both monumental and individualistic, inspired by South Netherlandish Sources, such as Rubens, but fusing them with Italianate poses. His female nudes are frequently shown with elaborate coiffures.","physicalDescription":"Statuette in ivory representing Charity. A female figure draped from the waist, holds in front of her a child which looks up at her. Her left hand supports the child and in her raised right hand she holds a bunch of grapes. The right foot and base restored.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Leonhard Kern","id":"A11938"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Ivory","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2011EX8972","2011EX8973","2011EX8994","2019LK4213"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES395605"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":"x45409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1620-1645","earliest":"1615-01-01","latest":"1645-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh F.S.A.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A. in 1949; formerly on loan from Dr Hildburgh.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, ivory, Charity, by Leonhard Kern, German, ca. 1620-45","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Volbach, W. F. <font -u>Die Elfenbeinbildwerke. (Die Bildwerke des Deutschen Museums.)</font> Berlin, 1923, p. 62, no. 7842, taf. 73"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Scherer, C. <font -u>Die Braunschweiger Elfenbeinsammlung.</font> Leipzig, 1931, p. 44, no. 38, pl. 10"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 24"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Charity","id":"N787"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"woman","id":"x35642"},{"text":"child","id":"x31382"},{"text":"grapes","id":"x30300"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"CHARITY\r\nSouth German; about 1610-1650\r\nIvory\r\nStyle of Leonhard Kern\r\nGiven by the Dr, W. L. Hildburgh F.S.A.\r\n\r\nKern specialised in small scale sculpture in boxwood and particularly ivory. This figure and the figure of abundance displayed next to it, reflect his style, the proportions of the body are stocky, and the faces have aquiline noses and full cheeks\r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"1993 - 2011","earliest":"1993-01-01","latest":"2011-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.37-1949"],"accessionNumberNum":"37","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1949,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-27","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}