Medieval Meets Modern in Utrecht

Gothic vestment work is not something we have always a great deal of opportunity to feature here, but as we sit within the Octave of Easter, I thought it a good opportunity to feature of white gothic chasuble found in the collection of the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The chasuble spans two different centuries. The main, white silk body of the chasuble itself is modern -- specifically, this part of the chasuble dates to the nineteenth century. The orphrey, however, dates to the fifteenth century, specifically the period of A.D. 1450-1500. 

The Museum offers the following descriptive commentary of the piece:

The chasuble, in a late Gothic style, is made of a white silk damask fabric, in which... two deer kneel in a flowering meadow, facing each other, looking up at a halo and bands of clouds in which two young eagles are perched. On both the front and back, the chasuble bears embroideries in the form of a forked cross. 

The reverse [of the chasuble] depicts the Crucifixion of Christ. Christ hangs on the cross; at the foot of the cross, [St.] John the Evangelist holds a swooning Mary in his arms and looks up mournfully at the deceased [Christ]... 

The side arms of the forked cross bear coats of arms with the Arma Christi: on the left, a blue field with three dice, and on the right, a blue field with a scourge, hammer, and pincers. The column on the obverse contains three coats of arms: i.e. the crown of thorns on a blue field, the three nails on a red field, and the whipping rod on a blue field. The side arms also each have a coat of arms: on the left, a sponge and lance on a blue field, and on the right, the whipping post on a blue field. 

We begin with the back of the chasuble -- which is, of course, the most important side given that it was this side that would have been mainly visible to the faithful; for that reason it contains the predominant imagery. 

Back of the chasuble

The design of the front of the chasuble is entirely made up of symbols of the Passion of Christ -- the "Arma Christi."

Front of the chasuble

(By way of digression, the particular elegance of the shape is worth taking note of here and as far as the white silk damask is concerned, I would be remiss to not note that it continues to be available by way of Watts & Co. of London.)

Now, I am certain our readers would be interested in taking a closer look at the particular details of the design, so we shall conclude our consideration here with a few details of the appliqué embroideries.

Christ crucified

Our Lady and St. John on the thistle-laden hill of Golgotha

The hammer used to drive the nails into Christ's hands and feet; the pincers used to remove the same nails.

The scourge used in the flagellation of Christ

The dice used to cast lots for Christ's seamless robe

Christ's crown of thorns

The sponge on the reed by which Christ was offered vinegar and gall to drink; the holy lance by which Christ's side was pierced by the Roman soldier to ensure his death before the Sabbath.

The nails

The column of the flagellation

Photos: Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht. Ruben de Heer

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