Speaking personally, I have always found it rather gratifying to observe works of art in progress. Michelangelo famously quipped that he simply released the figures that were already hidden within the raw block of stone, chipping away at the extraneous bits to reveal it. To…
Works in Progress: Iconographic Draughtsmanship
Speaking personally, I have always found it rather gratifying to observe works of art in progress. Michelangelo famously quipped that he simply released the figures that were already hidden within the raw block of stone, chipping away at the extraneous bits to reveal it. To…
Vestments of St. Wenceslas Cathedral, Olomouc, Czech Republic
As part of the 2020 exhibition,"Ornamenta Episcopi: Liturgical Vestments of the Olomouc Cathedral," held at St. Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc, Czech Republic, three sets of vestments coming out of the exhibition -- and from two very different periods of time -- …
The (Former) Premonstratenian Abbey Church of St. Magnus in Bad Schussenried, Germany
Until the Imperial Abbey of Schussenried was dissolved in 1803 during the Napoleonic era, the church of St. Magnus was an abbey church. Originally the church was a Romanesque construction, having been built toward the end of twelfth century, but as the abbey grew in its pro…
The Ruben Vestments of Antwerp Cathedral in Belgium (1721-1768)
Within the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Antwerp (Belgium) is a beautiful set of Solemn Mass vestments that they call the Rubensgewaad (Ruben vestments). These particular vestments are liturgically rose in colour and come from the 18th century. Specifically the silk itself is …
The Mosaics of the Procession of the Apostles in the Paleochristian 'Battistero Neoniano' in Ravenna
The Battistero Neoniano (Baptistery of Neon) is a late fourth or early fifth century baptistery found in the city of Ravenna. The baptistery, which is octagonal in shape (a purposefully symbolic choice, representing the eighth day, the day of the Resurrection), was original…
Crux Gemmata: The Heinrichskreuz of Basel Cathedral in Switerzland
A masterpiece of Ottonian era art, the Heinrichskreuz is the gemstone cross associated with the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, fashioned in the eleventh century -- with further augmentations occurring during the Renaissance and nineteenth century. Originally this cross was p…
The Virgin of the Rosary Found on the Facade of Iglesia los Santos Juanes in Valencia
With today being the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, there seemed to be no better time to feature an interesting and beautiful work of stucco found on the facade of the thirteenth century church of "los Santos Juanes" in Valencia, Spain -- the Royal Parish of…
The Silver Altar Cross of the Baptistery of Saint John in the Duomo of Florence
Contained within the impressive collections of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence is a silver altar cross that was fashioned in between 1457-1459 by Antonio del Pollaiolo and Betto di Francesco Croce. Originally this altar cross was, according to the Museum, &qu…
Gabriel Pippet's and Maurice Josey's Mosaics at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine in Worcestershire, England
The Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria, located in Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, England, present a stunning example of the potential for mosaic work in contemporary church design. Mostly we tend to think of mosaics when we consider Byzantine and …
Tabernacle Veils and San Salvatore in Lauro, Rome
Rome is, of course, filled with various churches and chapels, major and minor basilicas, and within the Eternal City, one can find all manner of tabernacles for the purpose of reserving the Blessed Sacrament. In many instances, following the more ancient model (as well as t…
A Medieval Cope Featuring St. John the Baptist, St. Lawrence and Others
While we have our readers attention on some of the spectacular vestments that can be found in Nordic countries like Sweden, I would turn your attention to this gorgeous and unique red velvet cope that is dated to the fourteen or fifteenth century -- specifically to sometime…
