Robed Collection

A Priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reads a very old, beautifully illustrated bible beside the entrance to the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi

Richard Owen, British palaeontologist C016 / 5008
Richard Owen (1804-1892), British anatomist and palaeontologist. Owen was the founder and first director of the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Self-portrait of Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856 - 1931) in Arabic costume, c
1275378 Self-portrait of Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856 - 1931) in Arabic costume, c.1890 (sepia photo). by Gloeden, Wilhelm von (1856-1931); Private Collection; (add.info)

La Serva Padrona
An oil painting of a red robed gentleman, standing beside his maid mistress, wearing a yellow and red dress, at the foot of a grand bed with green curtain drapings. Date: circa 1919

Blue Robed Figure
A painting showing the lonely figure of a young person wearing blue robes, sitting on some fine terrace pillared walls. Date: circa 1916

President of the Council of Public Instruction. Chromolithography. Historia de las Ordenes de Caballeria y de las Condecoraciones Espanolas

Asante Seat, from Ghana (wood)
HSC194620 Asante Seat, from Ghana (wood) by African School; height:53 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Heini Schneebeli

Portable Altarpiece: Pieta, Saints Francis, Sebastian, John the Evangelist, Jerome, and John the Baptist, c
3577022 Portable Altarpiece: Pieta, Saints Francis, Sebastian, John the Evangelist, Jerome, and John the Baptist, c.1500 (oil on panel) by Bermejo

Saint Cecilia (oil on canvas)
CH251426 Saint Cecilia (oil on canvas) by Meteyard, Sidney (1868-1947); 78.1x91.4 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Christies Images

Tunisian street scene (oil on canvas)
CH466610 Tunisian street scene (oil on canvas) by Rolshoven, Julius C. (1858-1930); 71.6x91.4 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; American, out of copyright

Algerian street in Sidi Okba, c. 1899 (photochrom)
5053974 Algerian street in Sidi Okba, c.1899 (photochrom) by Detroit Publishing Co. (1880-1920); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

Portrait of a Carthusian, 1446 (oil on wood)
3615921 Portrait of a Carthusian, 1446 (oil on wood) by Christus, Petrus (c.1410-1475/76); 29.2x21.6 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; (add.info.: The Carthusian Order)

A Buddhist Ordination in Ceylon (engraving)
1059072 A Buddhist Ordination in Ceylon (engraving) by Corbould, Alfred Chantrey (1852-1920); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Buddhist Ordination in Ceylon)

Studies of draped figures (silverpoint heightened with white body colour on prepared
615296 Studies of draped figures (silverpoint heightened with white body colour on prepared paper) by Lippi, Filippino (c.1457-1504) (follower of); eThe Devonshire Collections

St. Paul, 1514 (engraving)
1066644 St. Paul, 1514 (engraving) by DAorer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528); 11.9x7.5 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; Junior League Print Fund; German, out of copyright

Saint Damien, c. 1490 (oil on wood)
898004 Saint Damien, c.1490 (oil on wood) by Bermejo, (Bartolome de Cardenas) (c.1435/40-1500); 165.5x77 cm; Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon

The inauguration of the Tripoli-Zuara railway line, with the characteristic Muslim ceremony... (colour litho)
2808883 The inauguration of the Tripoli-Zuara railway line, with the characteristic Muslim ceremony... (colour litho) by Beltrame

Solemn ceremony for the coronation of George V as King of England and Ireland in the Abbey... (colour litho)
2815452 Solemn ceremony for the coronation of George V as King of England and Ireland in the Abbey... (colour litho) by Beltrame

A characteristic ceremony for the appointment of five new cardinals, adoration at the Altar... (colour litho)
2783758 A characteristic ceremony for the appointment of five new cardinals, adoration at the Altar... (colour litho) by Beltrame

HMS "Black Prince"(chromolitho)
2790862 HMS " Black Prince" (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS " Black Prince." Illustration for one of a set of cigarette cards)

Saint Augustine, 1477-85 (oil on panel)
2970587 Saint Augustine, 1477-85 (oil on panel) by Bermejo, (Bartolome de Cardenas) (c.1435/40-1500); 49x27.7 cm; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA; (add.info.: Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Halfpenny, obverse, 1795 (copper)
3086552 Halfpenny, obverse, 1795 (copper) by English School, (18th century); 29.3x29.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; (add.info.: weight, 10.02)

Monument to the Baring Family, 1806-13 (plaster)
UCL273954 Monument to the Baring Family, 1806-13 (plaster) by Flaxman, John (1755-1826); 62.2x45.0 cm; UCL Art Museum, University College London, UK; eUCL Art Museum

Rev. Thomas Wilson (1703-84) and Miss Catherine Macaulay (1731-91) (oil on canvas)
CHW253948 Rev. Thomas Wilson (1703-84) and Miss Catherine Macaulay (1731-91) (oil on canvas) by Wright of Derby, Joseph (1734-97); Chawton House Library, Hampshire, UK; English, out of copyright

Interior of the New York Temple of the Societas Rosicruciana in America, c
RGL212694 Interior of the New York Temple of the Societas Rosicruciana in America, c.1913 (b/w photo) by American Photographer

Annunciation Angel, detail from the Polyptych of San Giovanni Battista, c. 1525 (oil on panel)
ALI259695 Annunciation Angel, detail from the Polyptych of San Giovanni Battista, c.1525 (oil on panel) by Lotto, Lorenzo (c.1480-1556); SS. Alessandro e Vincenzo, Ponteranica, Bergamo, Italy; Alinari

Procession of the Doge and Venetian Officials, c. 1555-60 (woodcut) (b / w photo)
TPG188401 Procession of the Doge and Venetian Officials, c.1555-60 (woodcut) (b/w photo) by Pagani, Matteo (fl.1538-62); Museo Correr, Venice

During her recent stay in Bulgaria for the birth of her granddaughter Maria Luisa... (colour litho)
2778125 During her recent stay in Bulgaria for the birth of her granddaughter Maria Luisa... (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Addis Ababa Days (colour litho)
2778485 Addis Ababa Days (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Addis Ababa Days)

A picturesque goliardic party in Pavia (colour litho)
2808996 A picturesque goliardic party in Pavia (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: A picturesque goliardic party in Pavia)

The award of the Crown of Virtue to the young men of Kotzling, Lower Bavaria... (colour litho)
2783592 The award of the Crown of Virtue to the young men of Kotzling, Lower Bavaria... (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

Switzerland: The three leaders of the Helvetian Confederation
STC444702 Switzerland: The three leaders of the Helvetian Confederation, from Costume dei Romani, Svizzeri.. (colour litho) by Gallina

The Abbot and monks of Kushan Monastery, c. 1867-72 (b / w photo)
473734 The Abbot and monks of Kushan Monastery, c.1867-72 (b/w photo) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Private Collection; (add.info)

Sonnet: When I have fears that I may cease to be, 1887 (oil on canvas)
5858831 Sonnet: When I have fears that I may cease to be, 1887 (oil on canvas) by Low, William Hicok (1853-1932); 60.9x45.6 cm; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL

Halfpenny, obverse, 1795 (copper)
3086550 Halfpenny, obverse, 1795 (copper) by English School, (18th century); 29.3x29.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; (add.info.: weight, 10.02)

Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstetched wings, c
3493078 Helmet with divine figures beneath a bird with outstetched wings, c.1500-1100 BC (bronze, gold foil over bitumen) by Middle Elamite Period

Submissions of high figures continue in Ethiopia (colour litho)
2778469 Submissions of high figures continue in Ethiopia (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Submissions from high figures continue in Ethiopia)

Torre del Greco was destroyed by Vesuvius thirteen times and always rebuilt (colour litho)
2778012 Torre del Greco was destroyed by Vesuvius thirteen times and always rebuilt (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

In the presence of the Cardinal Legate and the representatives of the Order of Benedictines of Everything
2783626 In the presence of the Cardinal Legate and the representatives of the Order of Benedictines of Everything... (colour litho) by Beltrame

The solemn inaugural session of the Accademia d Italia, in the Hall of the Horatii and Curiatii
2783538 The solemn inaugural session of the Accademia d Italia, in the Hall of the Horatii and Curiatii, in the Capitol (colour litho) by Beltrame

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In a sacred sanctuary, a Priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reads a very old scripture, his blue robe draped elegantly around him. The ancient words transport him to another time, where Richard Owen, the renowned British palaeontologist, uncovers the fossilized remains of an enigmatic creature - C016 / 5008. As he delves deeper into his studies, he is captivated by La Serva Padrona - an opera that tells a tale of love and servitude. Amidst this diverse tapestry of history and culture emerges a figure in flowing blue robes. Is it the President of the Council of Public Instruction? Or perhaps it is a man wearing a toga from ancient Rome? This mysterious Blue Robed Figure transcends time and space as it appears in various forms throughout history. From medieval depictions like Beatus of Girona's heavenly portrayal to peers entering Westminster Abbey for Coronation ceremonies, this symbol of authority and spirituality has stood the test of time. Even in distant lands like Ghana, an Asante Seat carved from wood showcases regal figures adorned in resplendent robes. Art too pays homage to this iconic garment; take for instance the Portable Altarpiece with its intricate depiction of Pieta surrounded by saints such as Francis, Sebastian, John the Evangelist, Jerome, and John the Baptist. The oil on panel masterpiece captures both reverence and solemnity within its brushstrokes. Yet not all portrayals are positive; some have used images like "Ethiopian barbarism" as color lithographs to perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions about cultures different from their own. Through these glimpses into history's kaleidoscope lens emerges one constant - robed figures have always held significance across civilizations. They embody power or piety depending on context but ultimately serve as reminders that humanity's story is woven together through shared symbols and traditions.