medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Laura Jacobus wrote:
>
> With apologies for cross posting (and embarrassment at my ignorance):
>
> A friend has asked me if I am aware of any recent challenges to the
> standard theory that altarpieces (in Italy at least), 'began' as
> antependia, and moved to the top rear of the altar after Lateran IV
> instituted a change in the postion of the officiant. My answer was
> that I'm dimly aware of some alternative theories (eg. vita icones
> and gabled dossals not necessarily being altarpieces at all,
> altarpieces 'evolving' from iconostases) and of Gardner's elucidation
> of ecclesiastical law on the matter, but not sufficiently well-up on
> this as to give him much by way of a decent bibliography. Any
> suggestions therefore gratefully recieved.
I can't see any sign of it in Lateran IV - which sounds a bit late anyway.
I would have expected any change to have been initiated a bit earlier.
"Change in the position of the celebrant" is highly controversial amongst
right-wing Catholic theologians, of course - they dispute that it has any
historical basis at all. I think they are wrong, but would be hard-pressed
to say in which century it occurred!
John Briggs
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