medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Two further observations, both having to do with the scenes in the upper right:
1. The large birds on the ground really do look like large corvids and in all probability are meant to be ravens. The large birds in the air (this could be a "before-and-after" scene, BTW, in which case we might think of five birds rather than ten) don't closely resemble crows or ravens in flight but that could be down to the artist's particular skill set rather than to his intention.
2. The object just above the ploughing scene appears to be a large rock with timbers (levers) protruding from beneath it on one side. This puts me in mind of St. Nonnosus on Mt. Soracte, who by his prayers moved a large rock that others, wishing to create space for a vegetable garden, could not remove from its original position (Gregory the Great, _Dialogues_, 1. 7). Nothing else here being reminiscent of Nonnosus, I wonder if the mystery saint does not have attributed to him a miracle of the same sort.
Best again,
John Dillon
On Sunday, December 24, 2006, 3:26 pm, John Wickstrom wrote:
> Looking at the image for a few minutes, let me offer the following impressions:
> 1. A scapular may form part of the "habit' both of the monk kneeling
> and the monastic figure in the vision above, and the monastic figure
> in the distance speaking to (?) the other figure.
> 2. The other figure in the distance seems to be a lay ruler or
> authority of some sort who has perhaps risen from his seat (in
> agitation?). The monastic figure seems to be haranguing him, or
> perhaps vice versa.
> 3. There are ten large birds.
> 4. Why are two of the monastic figures bareheaded while one is cowled?
> 5. The monastic figure in the vision poses like St. Francis viewing
> the crucifix, at least in later versions e.g.
> http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/b/b7/300px-Francisbyelgreco.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.answers.com/topic/franciscan&h=355&w=300&sz=27&hl=en&start=27&tbnid=D2-OKq_flHO56M:&tbnh=121&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrancis%2Bof%2Bassisi%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN
> There seems to be some object or objects lying between Christ carrying
> the cross and the monastic figure viewing him. This scene also seems
> to take place inside a building (hut?), perhaps some parallel to the
> main scene?
> 6. The monastic figures are all bearded, suggesting hermits, lay
> brothers, reformed Benedictines or perhaps Franciscans.
> 7. That roundel on the wall seems to have some sort of figures on it:
> astrological, perhaps?
> just a few observations on the Eve,
> jbw
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
> culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Dillon
> Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 2:34 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [M-R] A mystery saint
>
>
> Here's the mystery saint again:
>
> > http://nauplion.net/bugslag.html
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