This scene attracts all kinds of commentary (a frequently remaindered
colour book of the tapestry happens only to exclude this scene)
very few people seem to take acount of an argument put forward by Miles or
John Gosling, in Annuale Medievale several years ago , that it could refor
to the cure of abbess Alfgifu of Barking's eye described in Goscelin's
lives of the Barking saints (ed by M L Colker in Annales Monastica -
(journal title not quite right??) vol 7 1965). Bonner focuses on the
possibility of associating the figure with Queen Emma, or Cnut's other
wife AElfgifu as many have (I think saying rightly that most we know is
going to be highlyl speculative??). I've never quite figured why most of
the peopple commenting just ignore Gosling's argument, rather than
dismissing it in whatever way most appropriate (of course I have a vested
interest in making Goscelin of St Bertin relevant to everything, but his
connecitons with various ENglish nunneries were really good so for
tapestry weavers to know his stories retold, even if not at Barking ....)
thought I'ld ask the list's assembled wisdom, mainlly on the art
historical side??
many thanks,
Georges
Georges Whalen
Centre for Medieval Studies
University of Toronto
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|