mediaeval-art

[mediaeval-art]

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day depicts St Augustine at prayer. The image is rather dark, but I like it.

Image source: New York Public Library MS. MA 54. Image believed to be in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

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“This bell contained within a later shrine casing was reputed to have belonged to St. Conall Cael, the abbot of Inishkeel, County Donegal, in the sixth century. The bell itself is very simple in its design and decoration. It is pyramidal with traces of bronze sheeting, and has a T-shaped bronze mount on the top. The mount is engraved with a large incised cross, and the sections are decorated with animals and ring-chains. The shrine covering the bell, decorated with silver plates incised with figures of God the Father, the Virgin and Child, the Archangel Michael, the crucified Christ, and various saints, was made during the fifteenth century and is far more elaborate than the object that it houses. Many Irish shrines were “redecorated” or reenshrined years after their creation: the Stow Missal Shrine and the Shrine of St. Patrick’s Tooth were both altered in the fourteenth century. The bell shrine was integral to the celebration of St. Conall’s feast day, when pilgrims gathered at his well on the island of Inishkeel. John O’Donovan, writing for the ordnance survey in 1835, describes this local ritual. “This chain O’Breslin threw around his neck, and from it the bell hung down his breast, exhibiting to the enthusiastic pilgrims the glittering gems and the symbol of the bloody sacrifice.” The O’Breslin family were the ancestral family of St. Conall and keepers of the shrine until the mid-1800s. There is no known reason why these bell shrines are a particularly Irish custom. The practice of enshrining objects associated with, or owned by holy figures, was encouraged heavily through royal patronage from the twelfth century and was not reserved for bells alone: croziers, clothes, and other items were also encased and venerated. Water, when drunk from a bell shrine, was believed to have healing properties.”

[mediaeval-art]

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day depicts the splendour of the word of Christ. The lovely border includes a pea motif, with lovely flowers and juicy peas bursting from lush green pods. If only the peas in my garden looked like this!

Image source: New York Public Library MS MA 31. Image believed to be in the public domain.

[mediaeval-art]

Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 832, detail of fol. 092r. Heidelberger Schicksalsbuch: Traktat von den 36 Sternbildern. Regensburg, c.1491.

The library website sticks its neck out and describes this as a female centaur. I leave it to you to decide. :)

[mediaeval-art]

Morse (clasp for a liturgical cope) with the Annunciation, made in Europe in the 13th century.

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Antonello da Messina, Saint Jerome in his Study, 1474.

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Ruins of the medieval Catholic church of Arač (Aracs) near Novi Bečej, 13th century.

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Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is a butterfly hunt! Here we have two thirteenth century ladies of fashion off on an adventure.

Image source: Walters Museum 109. Creative Commons licensed.

[mediaeval-art]

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is a tree of Jesse. An incredibly detailed late medieval/early Renaissance depiction of the genealogy of Christ, it is remarkable for its rich colours and lavish illustration. It originates from Naples circa 1480.

Image source: Walters Museum 330. Creative Commons licensed.

[mediaeval-art]

Merciful Christ, early 12th century. Glass and stone mosaic 

[mediaeval-art]

Hi Thanks for the fab new blog :D

Thanks!

[mediaeval-art]

Paolo Veneziano, Polyptych (detail) c. 1350.

[mediaeval-art]

The Lisbon Bible is the most accomplished dated codex (that is, a manuscript in book form rather than a scroll) of the Portuguese school of medieval Hebrew illumination. Completed in 1482, the Lisbon Bible is a testimony to the rich cultural life the Portuguese Jews experienced prior to the expulsion and forced conversions of December 1496.

On British Library’s online gallery you can view it in detail using the handy tool showed above.

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Claus Sluter, Portal of the Chartreuse de Champmol, 1388-1410.

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Michelangelo, Study after two figures in Giotto’s fresco cycle, c. 1490.

Giotto, Ascension of St John the Evangelist, Peruzzi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence, c. 1315 or c. 1325-28.

[mediaeval-art]

A woman!

A woman teaching geometry, from a 14th century illustration attributed to Abelard of Bath.

In this 14th century illustration from a copy of Euclid’s Elements, a woman is shown holding a compass and square, teaching geometry to a group of monks.

[mediaeval-art]

The lower cover of Lindau Gospel, 9th century.