Medieval History
I finally found some images of interior paintings in a few stave churches in Norway. They are primarily paintings from altars, painted in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and most no longer in situ. These images come from The Stave Church Paintings; Medieval Art from Norway, by Martin Blindheim. Published by Collins with UNESCO, in 1965. Its a slim, tiny tome, so the images here aren't all that great. These are also not the original interior decoration, as the structure of the churches were built earlier in most cases, some as early as the twelfth century...
St. Bodolph, detail from an altar frontal from Ardal stave church, Sogn. c. 1300. Now in Historisk Museum, Bergen. Byzantine style is evident in the draped clothing, but it reminds me most of manuscript illuminations of the period....Pretty sure St. Bodolph isn't the same saint as Botolph, the English saint from the seventh century....Anyone know a Bodolph?
Annunciation, detail of altar frontal II from Dale church, Sogn. Late fourteenth century. Now in Historisk Museum, Bergen. I've always had a soft spot for Annunciations. Elizabeth and Mary on the right are tender.
Flight into Egypt, detail of the vaulting from Al stave church, Hallingdal. Late thirteenth century. Now at the Universitetets Oldsaksamling, Oslo.
Christ at the Gates of Hell, detail of an altar frontal from Rondal stave church, Hordaland. Late fourteenth century. Now in the Historisk Museum, Bergen. Wow! Its enough to scare you straight. The devil upon the beast-gate's nose is pretty fantastic.
See also my post on the Stave Churches.
- Norske Stavkirker, The Interiors
Norway's stave churches are endlessly fascinating to me. My most recent inquest has been the interior decoration. What kind of art was displayed inside - and how did it relate to the viewer? I picked up some gems from two books: Norske Stavkirker,...
- Norway's Stave Churches
In graduate school I wrote a paper arguing that Irish Romanesque churches were architectural descendants of earlier wooden churches, and that these wooden churches were similar to Norwegian stave churches built in the 12th century. The style was fluent...
- Main Altar Of Kisszeben On View Again
Photo: Hungarian National Gallery / MTI Photo: Soós LajosThe main altar of the church of Kisszeben (Sabinov, Slovakia) is on view again at the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest. The altarpiece has not been put together since WWII - during the...
- Lenten Array 2011
The ancient western custom of covering altars and images with Lenten array and Lenten veils has been covered on this blog a number of times. If you want to know more about the custom and its purpose look at the article here and...
- Neglected Comper Work In Buckinghamshire
Great Kimble church sits on the busy A4010 that links Aylesbury and Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire and hundreds of people pass by the church each day. How many are aware that this church contains a great treasure? A beautiful side chapel with...
Medieval History
The Stave Church Paintings, Medieval Art from Norway
I finally found some images of interior paintings in a few stave churches in Norway. They are primarily paintings from altars, painted in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and most no longer in situ. These images come from The Stave Church Paintings; Medieval Art from Norway, by Martin Blindheim. Published by Collins with UNESCO, in 1965. Its a slim, tiny tome, so the images here aren't all that great. These are also not the original interior decoration, as the structure of the churches were built earlier in most cases, some as early as the twelfth century...
See also my post on the Stave Churches.
- Norske Stavkirker, The Interiors
Norway's stave churches are endlessly fascinating to me. My most recent inquest has been the interior decoration. What kind of art was displayed inside - and how did it relate to the viewer? I picked up some gems from two books: Norske Stavkirker,...
- Norway's Stave Churches
In graduate school I wrote a paper arguing that Irish Romanesque churches were architectural descendants of earlier wooden churches, and that these wooden churches were similar to Norwegian stave churches built in the 12th century. The style was fluent...
- Main Altar Of Kisszeben On View Again
Photo: Hungarian National Gallery / MTI Photo: Soós LajosThe main altar of the church of Kisszeben (Sabinov, Slovakia) is on view again at the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest. The altarpiece has not been put together since WWII - during the...
- Lenten Array 2011
The ancient western custom of covering altars and images with Lenten array and Lenten veils has been covered on this blog a number of times. If you want to know more about the custom and its purpose look at the article here and...
- Neglected Comper Work In Buckinghamshire
Great Kimble church sits on the busy A4010 that links Aylesbury and Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire and hundreds of people pass by the church each day. How many are aware that this church contains a great treasure? A beautiful side chapel with...