Medieval History
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, I haven't seen that many, but it seems odd not to show her veiled'. I'm sorry Billy I can't answer the question, I don't know why she is shown uncovered, but what I have noticed is that Our Lady is usually shown without the veil in English medieval iconography. All this has reminded me of this fascinating panel of the Assumption of Our Lady at Sandford on Thames in Oxfordshire. Very foolishly, while I lived in Oxfordshire for three years, I didn't ever make it down the road to see the panel, so I know it only from the excellent photography of my friend Martin Beek.
The iconography of the panel is fairly standard, Our Lady stands in an aureole or Mandorla, with angels hovering around it lifting the Virgin into heaven. Our Lady is crowned and has long flowing hair. The interesting aspect of this panel is at the base, two angels hold what appears to be a reliquary or monstrance. The reliquary is hollowed out as though it was intended to enclose a further object. Perhaps it contained a reliquary box of some sort, who knows? How did this panel survive the Reformation? Martin suggests that the carving was hidden at the Reformation and was discovered in 1723 face down near the south porch where it was being used as a step. Fr Hunwicke in his blog Liturgical Notes suggests that the panel may have come from the Carmelite house in Oxford, but I don't see it beyond the bounds of possibility that work of this quality originated in the piety of a parish church.
- 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...
- Shadows Of Former Things Part Iii
Site of a former side altar at Glentham in Lincolnshire, an arched niche that probably contained a panel of a reredos and beside it a bracket for an image. How tantalising these remains are, but sadly so difficult to put in any true context without...
- 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...
- 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...
- Palimpsest Wallpaintings
Combe, Oxfordshire, wallpaintings, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.A palimpsest is a work or art or manuscript that has been painted on on or written on, scraped off, and used again. The word palimpsest comes through Latin from the Greek words ?????...
Medieval History
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, I haven't seen that many, but it seems odd not to show her veiled'. I'm sorry Billy I can't answer the question, I don't know why she is shown uncovered, but what I have noticed is that Our Lady is usually shown without the veil in English medieval iconography. All this has reminded me of this fascinating panel of the Assumption of Our Lady at Sandford on Thames in Oxfordshire. Very foolishly, while I lived in Oxfordshire for three years, I didn't ever make it down the road to see the panel, so I know it only from the excellent photography of my friend Martin Beek.
The iconography of the panel is fairly standard, Our Lady stands in an aureole or Mandorla, with angels hovering around it lifting the Virgin into heaven. Our Lady is crowned and has long flowing hair. The interesting aspect of this panel is at the base, two angels hold what appears to be a reliquary or monstrance. The reliquary is hollowed out as though it was intended to enclose a further object. Perhaps it contained a reliquary box of some sort, who knows? How did this panel survive the Reformation? Martin suggests that the carving was hidden at the Reformation and was discovered in 1723 face down near the south porch where it was being used as a step. Fr Hunwicke in his blog Liturgical Notes suggests that the panel may have come from the Carmelite house in Oxford, but I don't see it beyond the bounds of possibility that work of this quality originated in the piety of a parish church.
- 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...
- Shadows Of Former Things Part Iii
Site of a former side altar at Glentham in Lincolnshire, an arched niche that probably contained a panel of a reredos and beside it a bracket for an image. How tantalising these remains are, but sadly so difficult to put in any true context without...
- 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...
- 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...
- Palimpsest Wallpaintings
Combe, Oxfordshire, wallpaintings, originally uploaded by Vitrearum.A palimpsest is a work or art or manuscript that has been painted on on or written on, scraped off, and used again. The word palimpsest comes through Latin from the Greek words ?????...