Medieval History
High up on the tower at St Michael's church in Minehead in Somerset and looking out over the burial ground, is this wonderful little carved panel. It dates from the fifteenth century. It shows St Michael, the patron of the church, holding a pair of scales, weighing the souls of the departed. Our Lady stands prominently on the right of the panel, attempting to tip the scales in favour of the tiny soul that stands naked in the pan. On the other side of the scales a demon clings to the underside eof the pan, attempting to tip the scales in his favour and damn the soul within. Its a glorious image. Our Lady seems to be attempting to tip the scales through her intercession. A prayer scroll seems to be wrapped around the scales. Under her gown she shelters the souls of the faithful.
- Memorial Altarpiece
The parish church of Youlgreave in the Derbyshire peak district, has a rather remarkable and interesting medieval alabaster panel. This rectangular panel is currently set into the wall above the altar at the east end of the north nave aisle, though it...
- Five Wounds Of Christ
Angel holding the arma christi, a shield charged with the five wounds. It is unusual to see this subject in colour, usually it is rendered in yellow stain. This image from Lawrence Lew's wonderful photostream, is taken from a panel of fifteenth...
- Some Thoughts On Our Lady Of London
One of my favourite images of Our Lady is the poster 'Our Lady of London' which was designed in 1935 by Martin Travers. I took this photo of it from a surviving copy hanging in a Nottinghamshire church. Our Lady has twelve stars around her...
- Apologies For My Absence
St Michael and All Angels, Louth, Lincolnshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.When I last posted on this blog on 19 March I said that I would be absent from the blog for a few weeks. Those few weeks have very quickly turned into nearly three months....
- Assumption At Sandford On Thames
In relation to the image of the Assumption in porch at Tiverton, BillyD asked the following question: 'Any idea why the BVM is shown with uncovered, flowing hair in the English medieval depictions of the Assumption that I've seen? Admittedly,...
Medieval History
Our Lady - mediatrix of the souls of the faithful
High up on the tower at St Michael's church in Minehead in Somerset and looking out over the burial ground, is this wonderful little carved panel. It dates from the fifteenth century. It shows St Michael, the patron of the church, holding a pair of scales, weighing the souls of the departed. Our Lady stands prominently on the right of the panel, attempting to tip the scales in favour of the tiny soul that stands naked in the pan. On the other side of the scales a demon clings to the underside eof the pan, attempting to tip the scales in his favour and damn the soul within. Its a glorious image. Our Lady seems to be attempting to tip the scales through her intercession. A prayer scroll seems to be wrapped around the scales. Under her gown she shelters the souls of the faithful.
- Memorial Altarpiece
The parish church of Youlgreave in the Derbyshire peak district, has a rather remarkable and interesting medieval alabaster panel. This rectangular panel is currently set into the wall above the altar at the east end of the north nave aisle, though it...
- Five Wounds Of Christ
Angel holding the arma christi, a shield charged with the five wounds. It is unusual to see this subject in colour, usually it is rendered in yellow stain. This image from Lawrence Lew's wonderful photostream, is taken from a panel of fifteenth...
- Some Thoughts On Our Lady Of London
One of my favourite images of Our Lady is the poster 'Our Lady of London' which was designed in 1935 by Martin Travers. I took this photo of it from a surviving copy hanging in a Nottinghamshire church. Our Lady has twelve stars around her...
- Apologies For My Absence
St Michael and All Angels, Louth, Lincolnshire, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.When I last posted on this blog on 19 March I said that I would be absent from the blog for a few weeks. Those few weeks have very quickly turned into nearly three months....
- Assumption At Sandford On Thames
In relation to the image of the Assumption in porch at Tiverton, BillyD asked the following question: 'Any idea why the BVM is shown with uncovered, flowing hair in the English medieval depictions of the Assumption that I've seen? Admittedly,...