| Collection | ABDUA University of Aberdeen, Human Culture Collection |
| Object Name | Painting (Sibyl Lybica) |
| Picture |
| Portrait |
| Object Number | ABDUA:30662 |
| Other Number | x |
| Other Number Type | Old number |
| Brief Description | Lybica. Half length portrait, near facing. With 'moor', dark-skinned, and with long black hair. Wearing shell above forehead, pearl and gold earrings, pearl necklace and pearl bracelet (both wrists), gold-bordered white bodice, orange robe with scroll pattern, white shawl. Holds olive branch in right hand |
| Content Description | Lybica, Sibyl |
| Dimensions | H: 820 mm W: 680 mm Th: 25 mm | H: 750 mm W: 600 mm |
| Materials | Oil on canvas |
| Condition | Fair |
| Completeness | Complete |
| Technique | Painting |
| Maker | Attributed to Jamesone, George. Restored by Alexander, Cosmo 1762 |
| Object Production Date | 1640-1761 |
| Place Key | Europe, Scotland, North East |
| Inscription Content | Top: S, LYBICA |
| Publication Note | The Public Catalogue Foundation (PCF), 'Oil Paintings in Public Ownership - Aberdeen', 2013. LEMUR Database. Pryor, M (2002) Painting the Profile:Imagery and Identity in the Art, Collections of King’s and Marischal Colleges, 1495-1860, |
| Caption | Sibyl Lybica
George Jamesone (c1587-1644)
Restored by Cosmo Alexander (1724-1772)
The Sibyls were twelve Ancient Greek oracles who became popular in
Renaissance Europe as foretelling the coming of Christ. The Libyan Sibyl is sometimes shown holding a candle to symbolise that the Light of the World would shine in the darkness. A set of imagined portraits was gifted to King’s College by Principal William Guild in 1641. For many years they hung in the Common Hall near the college chapel, where they were one of the few places women were represented in the University, which was at that time entirely male dominated.
University of Aberdeen Art Collection - ABDUA:30662 |
"A sibyl, in antiquity, was a woman endowed with the gift of prophecy. By the middle ages the western church had accepted 12 of them as prophets of the coming of Christ. Their attributes are varied. They commonly hold a book, one of the Sibylline books in which their prophecies were recorded. They are mostly represented as young women. The Aberdeen sibyls, 10 of which survive, are not always equipped with the standard attributes (on this occasion a sheathed sword and an olive branch). The attribution to Jamesone is much challenged though he was related to the donor of the works, Principal of King's College, William Guild (1640-51). It is possible that at a time of religious turmoil and Presbyterian ascendancy the donation and display of the paintings form a covert tribute to the institutions Episcopal identity and Stuart loyalty. All the sibyls were heavily restored by Cosmo Alexander in 1761 making attribution problematic."
Author: Morrison,John Date: 2002 Purpose: HA3541 |
| Aquisition Source | Guild, William |