Majestatis

Majestatis (, The Master of Christ in Majesty, usually shortened to Majestatis and sometimes referred to as the Tryde Master, fl. second half of the 12th century) was a Romanesque stone sculptor and the creator of several richly decorated baptismal fonts mainly in Scania and on Gotland (present-day Sweden).

Life and works The name Majestatis is a notname assigned to the artist or workshop; it is possible that an atelier rather than a single artist was responsible for the works attributed to Majestatis. Art historian Johnny Roosval coined the name in the 20th century. It derives from a subject often used by the artist, Christ in Majesty sitting on a rainbow and surrounded by a mandorla and angels. No written sources exist about the life or background of the artist, but it has been speculated that Majestatis was trained in Burgundy or Alsace or may have come from there. Majestatis initially seems to have worked in Scania, probably for the local nobility and possibly the (at the time Danish) royal family. Majestatis appears to have worked at the construction site of Lund Cathedral. Later Majestatis seems to have moved to Gotland. It is probable that the motive has some connection to, and the font may even have been commissioned by, the then reigning queen of Denmark (as Scania was then a part of Denmark), queen Sophia, spouse of Valdemar I of Denmark. Sophia had Polish ancestors and not least for that reason the creation of the font has been connected with the royal family. The font from Tryde was displayed at the International Exposition of 1867 in Paris, and awarded a bronze medal. Vall, Sproge, Stenkyrka, Väskinde and Gerum churches, as well as a few others, for example in Denmark and Hälsingland, Sweden.

Stylistically, Majestatis is recognisable through his elongated figures with well-kept, often braided hair, pear-shaped faces and large, rather pointed, oval eyes. The sculptor is known for the profusely adorned, but not overdecorated, baptismal fonts.

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