medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Marjorie,
Ironic in one sense, yes; but also just typical of most ages: there is
now, was there then, not one unified attitude toward art, jerusalem,
etc. Bernard was preaching to monks who had chosen the life of
Cistercian simplicity in the "wilderness"; Suger was building a
pilgrimage church celebrating St. Denis (and ties with the French
monarchy). Even Bernard admits that golden images appeal to the
"carnal" (alas---ordinary pilgrims streaming to the Abbey of St.-Denis
and elsewhere).
Just to throw another book (most subtle and awesomely literary in
style) on the 'virtual table" at which all of us on the MR list sit,
I'll mention Burcht Pranger's book on Bernard. It has a fascinating
chapter on Suger's ideas (and Panofsky, Dionysius the ps.Areopagite,
12th century theology, and Bernard's reln to Suger's ideas, etc etc)
followed by a chapter entitled: The Gems of Christmas: the Sermons on
the Nativity and Abstract Art. (the chap on Suger is: Gems and
Glitter: Suger of St. Denis and Bernard of Clairvaux on Art. (B.
Pranger, Bernard of Clairvaux and the Shape of Monastic Thought:
Broken Dreams. Brill: Leiden/New York/Koeln, 1994.
I can't recommend Pranger's work (on any topic whatever) too much!!
best
gz
Grover A. Zinn
William H. Danforth Professor of Religion (emeritus)
former Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH 44074
440-775-8866 (department)
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On Jan 16, 2008, at 12:57 PM, Marjorie Greene wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> If I followed this thread correctly, we have two interpretations of
> the church/monastery as the "Heavenly Jerusalem": Bernard's, which
> is purely ethereal and spiritual; and Suger's, which is an excuse
> for a sumptuously decorated edifice. The latter was of great concern
> for Bernard, whose "What need have we..." diatribe against the
> excesses of Cluny et al is the cornerstone for Cistercian simplicity.
> Ironic, no?
> MG
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