Sculptpedia Statues, Busts and Sculptures Park sculptures and installations Ancient World & Antiquity Middle Ages & Renaissance Marble & Other Stones Bronze & Other Metals

Diptych of Stilicho

The Diptych of Stilicho is a consular diptych made around the year 400 for Stilicho, magister militum of Emperor Honorius. It is preserved in the Treasury of Monza Cathedral, where it was donated by King Berengar I around 900. The work consists of two ivory panels, probably made by Milanese craftsmen for Stilicho’s first consulship. It depicts Stilicho, his wife Flavia Serena, and their son Eucherius standing frontally in a solemn, highly idealized composition. Stilicho appears armed with a spear and shield, while Serena wears Roman matron dress and Eucherius holds the writing tablet he received as a notary.

Diptych of Stilicho with carved figures of a woman, child, and armored warrior under arches.
Carved panels from the Diptych of Stilicho showing a woman and child on one side and a warrior on the other.
June 2006 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Carved relief from the Diptych of Stilicho showing two standing figures beneath an architectural canopy, with a taller robed figure holding an object aloft beside a smaller figure with a book or scroll.
The Diptych of Stilicho carved in relief, showing two standing figures beneath a canopy.
April 2017 © User:O.Mustafin · CC0
Black and white sketch of the Diptych of Stilicho showing two carved panels, one with a woman and child and the other with an armed man.
Sketch of the Diptych of Stilicho, with carved panels showing paired historical figures.
1891 © Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Carved plaque from the Diptych of Stilicho showing a standing Roman general holding a spear and shield.
A carved panel from the Diptych of Stilicho depicts a standing military figure with spear and shield.
April 2017 © User:O.Mustafin · CC0
Carved detail from the Diptych of Stilicho showing a bearded man in a patterned cloak holding a spear between architectural columns.
Detail from the Diptych of Stilicho, showing a bearded figure holding a spear within a carved architectural frame.
1932 © Marsyas · Public domain

Identification

TitleDiptych of Stilicho
Typeconsular diptych

Historical context

Datearound AD 400
PeriodLate Imperial period
Artistic styleSo-called Theodosius Renaissance, a classicizing revival connected with the restauratio of the golden age of the empire under Theodosius
Original functionConsular gift offered by consuls on the occasion of their installation
Commissioned forStilicho's first consulship

Creator

Possible workshop originPossibly made by Milanese craftsmen

Discovery and provenance

DonationDonated to the Treasury of the Cathedral of Monza by King Berengar I around AD 900

Location and ownership

Current locationTreasury of the Cathedral of Monza

Materials

MaterialCarved ivory panels with a wooden interior coated with wax for writing

Technique

ConstructionTwo hinged tablets
TechniqueHighly refined carved ivory reliefs

Physical characteristics

CompositionThree front-facing, standing family figures framed by a delicate architectural structure
StyleRefined carving with clearly perceptible body volumes beneath the garments and natural drapery folds

Appearance

PoseFront-facing and static
Spatial effectThe architectural frame isolates the figures in a privileged space
Temporal effectThe figures are presented as outside time
Sacral characterizationThe figures appear almost like sacred apparitions

Iconography and meaning

SubjectStilicho, his wife Serena, and their son Eucherius
Stilicho depictionBearded, armed with a sword, spear, and shield, with one foot resting on the ground; wearing a precious long-sleeved knee-length tunic, a rich inlaid mantle fastened on the right shoulder with a fibula and girding the sword, and sandal shoes
Serena depictionHolding a rose; wearing traditional Roman matron's dress with a Byzantine hairstyle, covered hair, a precious cap, and jewels
Eucherius depictionYoung figure in a toga holding the writing tablet received upon his appointment as notary in 395
Shield imageryPortraits of Honorius and Arcadius in relief on Stilicho's shield
Intended messageEmphasize the consul's importance as defender of the empire and as a soldier in the service of Honorius and Arcadius
Imperial ideologyIdealized and sacred representation of court figures reflecting the sacred character of imperial power
Theological interpretationImperial power is presented as ordained by God for the salvation of mankind
Roman costume evolutionRoman garments already show Byzantine characteristics
Jewelry and accessoriesPrecious brooches, and Serena's gem-decorated belt and jewels