Overview

Misericord carvings present a fascinating corpus of medieval art which, in turn, complements our knowledge of life and belief in the late middle ages. Subjects range from the sacred to the profane and from the fantastic to the everyday, seemingly giving equal weight to the scatological and the spiritual alike. Focusing specifically on England - though with cognisance of broader European contexts - this volume offers an analysis of misericords in relation to other cultural artefacts of the period. Through a series of themed ""case studies"", the book places misericords firmly within the doctrinal and devotional milieu in which they were created and sited, arguing that even the apparently coarse images to be found beneath choir stalls are intimately linked to the devotional life of the medieval English Church. The analysis is complemented by a gazetteer of the most notable instances. Dr Paul Hardwickis Professor in English, Leeds Trinity University College.

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9781843836599

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Reviews

A welcome addition to the growing literature on medieval liturgical furnishings. THE ART NEWSPAPERThe great strength of the book is that it attempts to approach the images through the eyes of those who saw them and understood their meaning. (...) An interesting and important book. VIDIMUS

An intelligent and well-written book (and) a stimulating and useful addition to the literature. JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY A unique and interesting analysis of that most fascinating of medieval church fixtures. (...) A well-researched, superbly written and certainly thought-provoking examination. ECCLESIOLOGY TODAY A significant contribution to the study of medieval misericords, marginal arts, and popular iconography.THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW (Hardwick's) multivalent reading of misericords takes us from the literal to the anagogical and similarly transcends early twentieth-century writings on the subject. SIXTEENTH CENTURY JOURNAL An interesting study, one which will encourage its readers to peer more closely into the ecclesiastical gloom. TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENTA work of considerable scholarship. NORTHERN HISTORYA welcome addition to the growing literature on medieval liturgical furnishings. THE ART NEWSPAPERThe great strength of the book is that it attempts to approach the images through the eyes of those who saw them and understood their meaning. (...) An interesting and important book. VIDIMUS

An interesting study, one which will encourage its readers to peer more closely into the ecclesiastical gloom. TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENTA work of considerable scholarship. NORTHERN HISTORYA welcome addition to the growing literature on medieval liturgical furnishings. THE ART NEWSPAPERThe great strength of the book is that it attempts to approach the images through the eyes of those who saw them and understood their meaning. (...) An interesting and important book. VIDIMUS

Can be recommended to all with a serious interest in misericords. WORCESTERSHIRE RECORDER An informative and entertaining book. CHURCH HISTORY Presents a novel perspective on the potential religious symbolism of English medieval misericords. STUDIES IN ICONOGRAPHY An intelligent and well-written book (and) a stimulating and useful addition to the literature. JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY A unique and interesting analysis of that most fascinating of medieval church fixtures. (...) A well-researched, superbly written and certainly thought-provoking examination. ECCLESIOLOGY TODAY A significant contribution to the study of medieval misericords, marginal arts, and popular iconography.THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW (Hardwick's) multivalent reading of misericords takes us from the literal to the anagogical and similarly transcends early twentieth-century writings on the subject. SIXTEENTH CENTURY JOURNAL An interesting study, one which will encourage its readers to peer more closely into the ecclesiastical gloom. TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENTA work of considerable scholarship. NORTHERN HISTORYA welcome addition to the growing literature on medieval liturgical furnishings. THE ART NEWSPAPERThe great strength of the book is that it attempts to approach the images through the eyes of those who saw them and understood their meaning. (...) An interesting and important book. VIDIMUS

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