So much medieval art has been lost since the mid 16th century, here I look at some wonderful visual evidence of a lost rood screen from Norfolk.
Neglect, apathy and fire – a lost Norfolk screen
Medieval Vestments 1.0 – Albs, Amices and Apparels
This is a first in a series of brief articles on late medieval western liturgical dress and vestments. It is intended to provide a brief introduction to the terminology used to describe medieval vestments, for those who are unfamiliar with them. My intention is to provide a guide that will help fellow art historians describe... Continue Reading →
The Mass in Rogier van der Weyden’s Seven Sacraments
Rogier van der Weyden's Seven Sacraments is an extraordinary painting. In this post I explore the depictions of the Mass within and what it might say about the lay experience of the Eucharist in medieval Europe.
‘Stayned’ and ‘peynted’ textiles.
Not all medieval church textiles were made of rich and costly materials. This article looks at the stained or painted linen cloths, their use in church context, their production and a few surviving examples.
Myth-busting – the ‘Devil’s Doors’ revisited.
Today I am delighted to be able to share with you a guest post written by my colleague Dr Nicholas Groves, in which he discusses the evidence for the most persistent of Ecclesiological myths, that of the 'Devil's door'. Many medieval doors in churches are blocked up, some of the blocked doors are to the... Continue Reading →
Wax votive offerings
This article explores the form, significance and purpose of a series of wax votive offering discovered in Exeter Cathedral during the Second World War.
“go to the eternal fire, you accursed” – a painted rood beam
Woodeaton in Oxfordshire has a super little medieval church with lots to delight and catch the interest. The walls have the remains of layer upon layer of medieval wallpaintings, including lots of red ochre lining out on the walls of the nave and a delightful St Christopher facing the main south door, just where you... Continue Reading →
Chantries, poor livings and the gift of a lectern
Late medieval gospel lecterns are wonderful things and I have blogged about them and their purpose before. There are quite a number of 15th-century latten lecterns in Norfolk and Suffolk, but the example from Oxborough in Norfolk, dating from the 1480s, is particularly impressive. Not only is it a delightful object visually, with its eagle... Continue Reading →
Burial ground or rubbish dump?
Buckinghamshire is a wealthy and pleasant county in the south east of England, rather too pleasant for churches to be kept open. The day I visited Chearsley, only half of the churches I visited were open - which is not a very good record. Anyway it was a delight to get into this charming little... Continue Reading →
The Somerton reredos
Set into the east wall of Somerton church in Oxfordshire is what appears to be at first glance a complete medieval reredos. It portrays the Last Supper with Christ and the disciples ranged behind a long table covered in a pleated cloth. They are all tucking in to food and drink, eating from wooden trenchers... Continue Reading →
