Art for the Christian Liturgy in the Middle Ages


Many thanks to BLS of the Topmost Apple Blog for drawing the following link to my attention. The Metropolitan Museum for Art in New York has a page entitled Art for the Christian Liturgy in the Middle Ages, with some rather lovely images and commentary on a range liturgical objects, including pyxes, chalices, chrismatories and manuscripts. Among the selection is the very glorious fourteenth century Constable chasuble (see above), a wonderful example of the 'Opus Anglicanum' embroidery that English needleworkers were famous for. You will also find on the page a whole host of links to illustrated thematic essays covering a wide range of different subjects from 'Private life in the Burgundian Netherlands' to 'Death in the Middle Ages'.

Comments

Roger Mortimer said…
Chasubles and ciabatta on the same web page. What more can one ask? Thank you Topmost Apple. The alliteration above reminds me that the vestment's full name is the Chichester-Constable Chasuble. By happy coincidence its companion cope (Allan knows this, so I'm just showing off) is the Butler-Bowden cope. It's of particular interest as it gives an idea of the design elements lost when the chasuble was cut down. I believe that there is a hypothetical connection between these vestments and Westminster Abbey, but don't recall where I read it

The BB cope is in the Victoria & Albert Museum. BB cope

Off to try to make ciabatta.
Allan Barton said…
Thanks for the links Roger, it is a pity that the two surviving elements of this important set have been so badly mutilated.

I hope you enjoyed your ciabatta.
Roger Mortimer said…
The ciabatta recipe worked well, though I learned a couple of tricks that will make it work better next time. One is important if another of your readers is tempted to try this. If using a KitchenAid mixer, as I do, do not assume that it is safe to turn it to high speeds and wander off to do other things. I did this and returned ten minutes later to find the mixer dancing around the counter top, about to head for the floor. Use lower speeds or stick around.

Fr. Lee Kenyon at Anglican Wanderings has posted a scan of a miniature of a medieval requiem which includes a hanging pyx with canopy and - the reason for my bringing this to your attention - a strange arrangement of what seem to be three pots on the floor under the hearse. Wonder if you know what the purpose of these might be - beyond an obvious possibility that they contain aromatics?

http://anglicanwanderings.blogspot.com/2008/10/in-midst-of-life.html
Serge said…
If you need cheap roman chasubles, you can find them in Poland.
www.chasubles.eu
Brotherly,
Serge

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