Ivory was popular as a material for religious subjects, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. Spanish and Portuguese patrons imported ivories carved with Christian imagery from their territories overseas, such as the Philippines, Mexico and Goa. German and Netherlandish artists were renowned for their dexterity in ivory carving. Their reliefs are masterpieces of composition and virtuosity. This relief, depicting the 'Lamentation over the Dead Christ' is made by Adam Lenckhardt in Vienna in ca. 1630. Lenckhardt was a German sculptor and ivory-carver and the son of Nikolaus Lenckhardt (d 1632), a sculptor, with whom he first trained (1622–4), before travelling to Italy. He was recorded in Vienna by 1638. Said by Theuerkauff to the most important court sculptor at Vienna after Steinl. In Vienna he carried out a number of works for the Prince of Lichtenstein, some of which are now lost. He seems to have worked exclusively on small-scale piecees, notably ivory and other precious materials, including rhinocerus horn. Many of his figures are strongly influenced by Italian models.
