Unknown man ('carved wooden roof boss')
1 portrait
Art Fund Popular Portraits Collection. Photo: © National Portrait Gallery, London
Share this
Unknown man ('carved wooden roof boss')
by Unknown artist
carved elm roof boss, 15th century
10 3/8 in. x 9 1/2 in. (265 mm x 240 mm) overall
Purchased with help from the Art Fund, 2018
Reference Collection
NPG D48634
On display in Room 1 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
This portraitback to top
This decorative carving depicts a 'type' rather than an individual. It was originally intended to be seen from below and would have been attached to the beams supporting the roof of a church or cathedral. Religion was central to daily life in the fifteenth century and people would have glimpsed this face while attending church. It is in the form of a grotesque face and may have had humorous intent. This carving indicates that representations of people were an important part of everyday visual culture.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
