Further Historical Vestments Seen in Sacred Art

Our 'vestments in art' series is always rather popular with our readers, so I'm pleased to add yet another instalment to the series today. 

The first image is a painting of Saint Lifard, painted in the early 1500's, and while it would be easy to get distracted by the imagery of a sainted abbot with a dragon on a leash, after you have your fill of that amusing detail, I'd invite you to look at the cope the abbot is wearing, which includes a beautiful golden ophrey with  various figures as well as the IHS mongram, complemented by a beautiful bluish-purple and gold silk damask. 

Saint Lifard by Jean Bourdichon (1503-1508)

And while we're on the subject of sainted prelates with fantastical creatures, here is one more, this time a portrait of St. Hugh of Lincoln, shown with a very large swan, painted sometime in the late range of 1490-1500.  You will notice a number of similarities between this cope and the previous one, and I'd also draw your attention to the mitre. 

Next we have an image of the legend of St.Nicholas bringing three young men back to life. The saint is shown wearing a vestment in the style of the early Renaissance with the ever popular pomegranate pattern.  You'll also note the classic y-orphrey and the elegant studded mitre. 

Here too are three more prelates in late medieval or early Renaissance pontificals. 

San Atanasio by Maestro de San Ildefonso, ca. 1500

The pomegranate pattern also turns up in this gorgeous painting depicting St. Peter dressed in full papal garb, holding his inverted cross and wearing a rather interested red and gold tiara. 

S. Pietro by Girolamo Alibrandi, ca. 1500-1516

This next painting shows an image of St. Gregory the Great, but what is noteworthy to me vestment wise is the beautiful orphrey that includes embedded stones. This is a feature of Medieval and Renaissance work that frequently gets forgotten in approaches to modern gothic revival work; it is a design feature that adds both beauty and texture and could add a great deal more beauty and interest to such works today.

St. Gregory by Juan de Nalda, ca. 1500

Our series on vestments in art has never yet included Eastern style vestments, so we're pleased to include this portrait of St. Gregory the Illuminator, shown wearing eighteenth century Armenian episcopal dress.  

St. Gregory the Illuminator, anonymous, 18th cent.

We will conclude this particular isntallment of the series with a few more portraits, most of which come from either the Renaissance or Baroque eras.

Pope St. Sylvester

Pope St. Telesphorus, anonymous, 1600's

Adoración de la Eucaristía, anonymous, 18th cent.

Portrait of Franciszek Krasiński (1525–1577), Bishop of Kraków

Portrait of Bishop Uriel Gorka, anonymous. 

St. Damasus, anonymous, 1500's.

St. Nicholas by Jacques De Poindre, 1563

Saint Ildefonsus by El Greco, 1609

Detail from The Miracle of the Grain, Altarpiece of St. Nicholas,, ca.1486-93

-------

Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by: 

Making a one-time donation or

Subscribing monthly/yearly 

You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.