medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Pat
Mu guess is that the bones are undergoing trial by fire - ie they are being
tested for their holiness. I don't know of any examples this late (and
would be intrigues to hear of any) but there are 11th 12th century examples.
I suspect that the image relates to the images when the altarpiece is open.
I read the picture as - top centre - hermit receiving alms (probably the
bones are that of a hermit)
Then zig-zagging down - burial of holy person, rediscovery of the tomb,
testing the bones by fire, bottom right the group are pronuncing on the
verdict or overseeing the procedure
Hope this is some use
All the best
Chris Daniell
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear List-members
In pursuit of information about the Knights of St John I have come across
the following quite extraordinary image:
http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/g/geertgen/bones.jpg
The artist is one Geertgen tot Sint Jan, probably a member of the Order
(according to the site which led me to the image) and it is an altarpiece,
seen here closed.
Can anyone with time to take a look at it tell me what is happening? There
appear to be four or five episodes depicted, some possibly Biblical, some
contemporary with the painting (late C15 I think). I am particularly
intrigued by the man with the bread-shovel full of bones, and his companion
delicately extracting another bone from the open tomb.
In hope,
Pat
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