medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
At 12:03 PM 6/28/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>John Dillon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > What most interests me in this matter of statuary niches is the
>appropriation of recognizably ancient forms in medieval and early modern
>Christian "popular" religion. ...Another is the small votive shrine or niche
>(in Italy commonly called an "edicola" even though its usually not
>free-standing). Here is a bunch of Sicilian examples:
>
> > http://www.bronteinsieme.it/BrIns_en/1mo_en/ce_sto3_en.html
>
><snip>
>
>
>but your site there
>
> > http://www.bronteinsieme.it/BrIns_en/1mo_en/ce_sto3_en.html
>
>has examples from various periods, the "Gothic" ones
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im98g.jpg
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82q3.jpg
>
>(or, perhaps, "neo-Gothic" ones
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82r10.jpg )
>
>presumably reflecting a different tradition from the "classical" ones
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82s8.jpg
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82p6.jpg
>
>http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82q9.jpg
>
>which are, ultimately reflective of the "Renaissance" of the antique
>architectural form language.
>
>this question of "form language" is a very complex one.
Indeed. I apologize for expressing myself poorly. It was not my intent to
imply either that these were other than modern or, apart from their being
wall-mounted or wall-housed votive niches in or on private dwellings, that
they were all similar in form to round-arched ancient Roman lararia or that
in any case we have a simple replication of an ancient form uninfluenced by
other traditions. Examples of those I do find similar to round-arched
ancient Roman statuary niches include these:
http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82q5.jpg
http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82r1.jpg
Examples of those similar to angular, pedimented ancient Roman statuary
niches include:
http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82p7.jpg
http://www.bronteinsieme.it/1mo/images/Im82q4.jpg
Both types are Christian in application today. Both could be "pagan" in
application in ancient Rome.
I've asked before but will ask again, What do we know smaller votive niches
in the inside of, or in the exterior fabric of, private homes in the Middle
Ages? Are these known to
have existed?
<snip>
>the blind arches which are found throughout "romanesque" churches were
>frequently, to judge by the surviving painted examples, "frames" for saintly
>portraits or Holy Scenes
>
>http://www.art-roman.net/berze19x.jpg
>
>the arch itself --especially as part of portals (including the choir- screen
>entrances)-- is evocative of Things Otherworldly and this evocation is
>enhanced by the addition of repetitive decorative motifs ("zig-zags",
>chevrons, etc.) along the span of the arch.
>
>i have seen very, very modest church portals and arches of the 11th-early 12th
>century which attain a certain "monumentality" through the agency of these
>(relatively) simple decorative motifs.
>
>in many cases i am severely tempted to interpret these "portals" as.... well,
>"portals" --the interface between two levels of Reality, the edge of which
>interface naturally "vibrates".
<snip>
>in the case of church portals (and choir-screen entrances) it is obviously a
>case of the interface between the Profane/Mundane and the Sacred/Celestial.
>
>i can't really prove any of that, i suppose.
>
>which, of course, doesn't make it any less true.
Here's a fancy Tuscan one to contemplate (Pistoia's San Giovanni Forcivitas):
http://www.arpai.org/img-restauri/pistoia1.jpg
And a south Italian example (Troia's cathedral) from a batch of photos
whose URLs I'm getting ready to post in connection with Secondinus of Troia
(another "sarcophagus saint" along the lines of Deodatus of Nola):
http://www.pugliago.it/itinerari/troia.html
And another south Italian example, from fairly close to Troia (Siponto's
ex-cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore):
http://www.manfredoniaeventi.it/cultura/s_siponto/siponto/pages/002.htm
In the unlikely event someone wishes more views, this is from:
http://www.manfredoniaeventi.it/cultura/s_siponto/siponto/index.htm
(or one could wait until next February, when -- if I'm still doing these --
there should be a "less well known" posting on Lawrence of Siponto).
Best again,
John Dillon
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