medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Kit,
Here are some views of St. Agatha's reliquary bust in the cathedral of
Catania (Sicily). Commissioned in 1373 by a bishop of Catania who
hailed from Limoges, and executed by the Sienese master Giovanni di
Bartolo, it was completed in 1376. The base is early modern and most
of the jewelry with which the bust is bedecked is also post-medieval
adornment.
http://www.goldsmith.it/us/culturale/storia/sagata/sagata.html
Lots of associated matter (e.g., separate body-part reliquaries; also
her shrine) as well as the reliquary bust here:
http://www.cataniaperte.com/santagata/reliquie/reliquie.htm#busto
Good close-ups:
http://tinyurl.com/g6xm7
http://www.cataniaperte.com/santagata/c_SAgatadavicino2.jpg
Here she is being carried through the city on her feast:
http://www.comune.catania.it/portale/comctnet/s_agata/index.asp
Next year's schedule is already up on the Web:
http://tinyurl.com/fb6ul
NB -- A. is a major saint and the patron of a major city. Her
reliquary bust has been a focus of pious attention for well over six
centuries. For fairly obvious reasons the incrustation permitted on it
has for a very long time been limited to precious stones and other very
costly items, usually small. People have given her much else but she's
not displayed with these.
I think I can can find a view or two of a modern, small-town reliquary
bust (vel sim.) bedecked with more ordinary body part ex-votos and the
like. But finding a medieval one that is still so adorned will be
difficult.
Hope this helps,
John Dillon
On Monday, August 21, 2006, at 1:28 pm, Katherine French
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am trying to put together an assignment for students, and I
> would like
> an image of a medieval reliquary, but preferable one that still
> has the
> votive offerings still attached. Even better if the reliquary
> looks like
> a body part, even better if there is an extant saint's life. Henry
> VIII
> pretty much made sure they don't exist for the part of the world I
> know
> best.
> Thanks in advance.
> Kit French
>
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|