medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: John Briggs <[log in to unmask]>
> Revd Gordon Plumb wrote:
> > "Mention of the pulpit as part of the furniture of churches serves to
remind us that it too was evolved from earlier forms. 'Debet autum
predicator in loco eminentiori esse, sicut et evangelium legens,'
says Durandus. In pointing to the "gospel" ambo as the most suitable
spot from which to deliver a sermon in church, he is also pointing to
the probable archetype of "pulpitum" as screen and "pulpitum" as
ordinary pulpit."
> Introducing the term 'gospel ambo' just presents us with another undefined
entity!
p'rhaps, but, since "gospel ambo" is more or less self-explanitory, it pales
to insignificance compared to Jon's 3 a.m. musings:
From: Jon Cannon <[log in to unmask]>
> The problem with the idea of a 'pulpit' (by which I mean a standalone
structure designed to enclose a preacher, usually centralised around that
preacher) as opposed to a 'pulpitum' (which you've defined well as one of the
names for a very substantial and wide screen)
if the "you've" here is Me, then i must say that i certainly did not intend to
define _pulpitum_ as a screen.
the problem with this word --as used in the sources-- is that it acquired, at
a certain point, a somewhat ambiguous meaning.
originally, it appears indeed to have meant "a standalone
structure designed to enclose a preacher", with a lectern (by which i mean
simply the thingie which held the book which was to be read) and, sometimes,
extensive decoration.
cf. DuCange --whose definition and examples of use are (curiously) confined to
this one sense.
an elaborate earlish example:
http://ariadne.org/cc/jube/ravenna.jpg
and a later Italian example, with all the Bells & Whistles:
http://www.molon.de/galleries/Italy/Pisa/img.php?pic=18
though the Ravenna example is screenish in form, since there is no allowance
for a doorway or passage through it, i assume that it did *not* act as a
screen seperating the choir from the nave and was probably positioned between
two piers of the nave.
both of those are "pulpits" and, i assume, were referred to in contemporary
sources as a _pulpitum_.
however, at some point --apparently during the course of the 12th c.-- we have
what appears to have been an innovation: a screen built across the eastern end
of the choir, pierced with doorway(s) to allow access to the choir, and upon
which was a pulpit/lectern and (frequently) a large crucifix or crucifixion
scene.
this is what we had at Chartres, from the 1230s:
http://ariadne.org/cc/jube/larmessin.jpg
http://ariadne.org/cc/jube/reconstruction-mallion.jpg
the problem is that when we find mention of this structure in the contemporary
sources (in the case of Chartres, in the precisely contemporary 13th c.
ordinal of the cathedral), it is called a _pulpitum_.
which is to say, the word used for it is *not* based on what *we* would now
think of as its most important feature --or even its most important function.
we call it a "screen", or, perversely, a "jubé" --which latter term
originally comes from its use as a *pulpit*, but which now, to us, means,
literally, a screen which seperates the choir from the nave.
(i'm keeping in mind Jim's earlier admonition to make a distinction between
the "choir screen" and the "jubé", the former a screen which goes round the
inner piers of the choir and ambulatory, the latter only across the east end
of the choir.)
but, for the midevils, it was the *pulpit* atop the screen which was its most
important feature
obviously, they were thinking in terms of its functional aspect in the context
of the rituals described in the ordinal; while we are thinking of the
structural/architectural/aesthetic nature of the beast.
so, my question is, what are we to think of when we read in his obituary that
bishop Ivo of Chartres (d. 1115) _construxit_ a _pulpitum_ which was _miri
decoris_?
was it a "pulpit" or a "jubé".
> A good place to start with the Chichester reliefs is Chichester cathedral:
an historical survey Hobbs M (ed) philimore 1994.
>George Zarnecki proposed a screen that ran from the se to the ne pier, with
panels wrapping around onto the side walls ofthe crossing, ie enclosing the e
end ofthe choir
which is to say, a jubé which, given the style, would make this not only the
earliest example known in England, but also earlier than any known in France,
as well.
my respect for Zarnecki is very great, but i'm afraid i don't see England as
being in the vanguard of the development of liturgical furniture at this
period.
>He proposed 8 panels in this screen, arranged in four pairs. The theme of the
surviving panels - St Lazarus - is both up-to-the-minute for the period (Autun
rebuilt 1130, contained his relics) and most unusual for England, so there is
much speculation about the panels' precise date, origin and function.
>13 fragments of other panels, some architectural in character and three of
them carved on both sides,
"carved on both sides" is an interesting feature.
hard to see how this would fit in with a reconstruction as a jubé, at least
one in the form we know from a bit later.
> Hope this is some help:
nothing is of "help".
>a fascinating question.
more Intractable than "facinating", unfortunately.
c
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