The Heavenly Ladder: illustration from a Klimax manuscript

Object Details

• Provenance

  The Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Constantinople (Istanbul) [1]

  To 1909

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1909 [2]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi, in Giza, in 1909 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record: "For a full discussion of the Freer 'Klimax' miniatures, see Charles R. Morey, 'East Christian Paintings in the Freer Collection,' New York, 1914, p. 17 ff; reproduced in color on pl. II; the same also on a single sheet stored with the original. For colophon, signature and dating, see especially pp. 26-29. Date and provenance are here given as 'about 1130, and their place of origin identified as the monastery of St. John the Baptist in Constantinople.'"

  [2] See Original Miscellaneous List, Biblical Mss. section, S.I. 1486-B, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Christian Art (December 1, 1971 to April 7, 1978)

  Christian Art (January 1, 1963 to May 15, 1968)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian and Byzantine Art (July 28, 1958 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Gallery 6 Alcove (February 25, 1956 to July 22, 1958)

  Special Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts and East Christian Art (February 15, 1955 to April 13, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, East Corridor (October 26 to November 10, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts, Gallery 6, 1947 (April 23 to October 3, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, 1947 (June 18, 1947 to October 26, 1955)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Monastery of St. John the Baptist

  Ali Arabi (ca. 1840-1932) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s

• Name

  Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Byzantine Period (395 - 640)

• Culture

  Christians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Paintings