learned listmembers,
the following query is probably directed primarily to art historians, but
others may have insight and suggestions as well.
I am trying to find out about the "visibility" of body parts (relics or
depictions in art) at various times in the Middle Ages. It is my
understanding that early reliquaries were beautiful jewelled containers,
which might at most indicate the nature of the relic contained (they might
be shaped like a head, arm, etc.) but which carefully concealed it, unless
one were lucky enough to be present on those rare occasions when the shrine
was opened. The ? 15th ? century, however, saw the development of
reliquaries with crystal insets which allowed one to actually view the
tooth, blood, hair, or whatever contained in the reliquary.
Further, statues and painting of the saints would usually (as discussed in
a few recent postings) depict the saint, fully dressed, with an emblem of
his martyrdom. A statue of St. Lawrence, for example, takes the form of a
young man dressed as a deacon, carrying a gridiron. Catherine is shown with
her wheel, Barbara with her tower, etc.
When do we start finding images of St. Lawrence actually being roasted, of
St. Erasmus having his guts wound out, etc?
What about the female saints who carry, not the instruments of torture, but
the mutilated body parts - St. Lucy her eyes, St. Agatha (?) her breasts?
Do we ever find images of St. Agatha (if she is the right one) having her
breasts cut off? I suspect that female nudity (or partial nudity) is less
common than that of males. Has anyone written on this topic? How do
portrayals of the bodies of saints (or other bodies) this relate to
crucifixions or other portrayals of Christ?
Thanks,
Meg
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