medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A few thoughts about this very interesting object:
> Firstly, is that not long hair falling from the woman's head to below her waist? Is this the clincher in favour of Mary Magdelene?
The woman's long hair is indeed clearly loose, not covered. While that
does not necessarily mean that she is the Magdalene rather than any
other virgin or penitent saint, it does make it unlikely that she is the
Virgin Mary of the medieval tradition. As a respectable married woman,
the Virgin nearly always had a veil over her hair. The exception is the
Nativity image based on the vision of St. Bridget. Perhaps someone
better versed in the iconography of the 16th c. could comment on this.
> See the Wiki page on Mary Magdalene for more images of her clasping the Cross:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene
Embracing the foot of the cross at the Crucifixion is not the same as
clasping/displaying the cross to one side, which any martyred saint
might do.
> I think we can be sure of the Magi - the BBC photos show the name 'Balthasar' on another of the side faces.
Yes. This is one reason to see the object as an amulet as well as a
reliquary-- the names of the Magi were thought to be apotropaic.
The depiction on the amulet/reliquary looks to me as if it could be based on a woodcut.
Looks that way to me, too!
I am struck by the resemblance to the more elaborate Middleham Jewel,
also a reliquary amulet (and mentioned in at least one of the news
reports). See
http://www.artfund.org/artwork/2633/the-middleham-jewel
That jewel, incidentally, offers a nice example of the Nativity
according to St. Bridget.
Best,
Genevra
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