medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
One such pilgrimage site, promoted by its city fathers in the 14th and 15th
centuries, was the cathedral of S. Stefano in Prato, home since the 12th
century of the Sacra Cintola, the girdle of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Although at its core this cult, like that of the well known St.
Marina/Margaret of Antioch and elsewhere, focused on assisting women *in*
pregnancy, at Prato at least there was a concurrent emphasis as well on
assisting barren women *to* pregnancy. Which suggests having a look at
cult sites of Marina/Margaret as well to see which of these may have
attracted barren women as pilgrims.
The history and miracles of the Sacra Cintola at Prato [photo at
http://www.pratoartestoria.it/id19.htm] are the subject of a Latin poem by
Duccio di Amadore of that city (fl. 1330s). The object itself is publicly
displayed five times a year (most notably on 8 September in conjunction
with a city fair of very long standing) from an external pulpit originally
created by Donatello. Which latter, depending on your definition of
"medieval", most or all medieval pilgrims will have arrived too soon to see.
A close-up view of this display may be seen at:
http://www.prato.turismo.toscana.it/comuni/ita/cintola.htm
For a photo showing the audience (but you can still make out the four dudes
on the balcony) see: http://www.comune.prato.it/civico/galleria/htm/pho6.htm
For three seemingly unretouched photos of the pulpit showing the original
formelle in situ (they're said to be now in the Museo dell'Opera del
Duomo), see:
http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp
it_1.jpg
http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp
it_2.jpg
http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp
it_3.jpg
The cathedral's Cappella della Sacra Cintola was constructed in the 1390s
(and so is definitely medieval) and extensively frescoed by Agnolo
Gaddi. For a photo of this recently restored chapel, see:
http://www.pratoartestoria.it/id295.htm
Best,
John Dillon
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John B. Dillon TEL: 608-262-0342
European Humanities Bibliographer
278E Memorial Library FAX: 608-265-2754
University of Wisconsin-Madison
728 State Street EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
Madison, WI 53706 USA
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