Harbaville Triptych

It is regarded as the finest, and best-preserved, of the "Romanos group" of ivories from a workshop in Constantinople, probably closely connected with the Imperial Court.

[1] Of this "Romanos group" the Harbaville Triptych is considered "by far the finest, for it shows an elegance and delicacy which are absent in the others.

"[2] Other groups of ivories have also been identified, presumably representing the output of different workshops, perhaps also employed by the Court, but generally of lower quality, or at least refinement.

[3] Since much greater numbers of ivories survive than panel paintings from the period, they are very important for the history of Macedonian art.

It derives its name from its first known owner, the antiquarian Louis-François Harbaville (1791-1866), who inherited it from his in-laws, the Beugny de Pommeras family of Arras.