Art, Prophecy, and Drama in the Choir of Salisbury Cathedral
Matthew M. Reeve
AbstractThe former painted cycle over the vaults of Salisbury Cathedral represents one great losses thirteenth-century English art. This paper focuses on imagery three-bay choir, which features twentyfour Old Testament kings and prophets each holding scrolls with texts prefiguring Coming Christ. The content derives from a sermon, well known in Middle Ages, by Pseudo-Augustine: Contra Judaeos, Paganos et Arianos. Yet most immediate sources lie twelfth extrapolations Pseudo-Augustinian sermon liturgical drama, so-called Ordo Prophetarum, or prophet plays. observation leads to discussion relationship its setting. It is argued that images choir were also be understood allegorically as types cathedral canons, who originally sat stalls below. A reading place prophecy located within traditions commentary, allegorize processions through churches Christian history. allegorization church interior Gothic period.
Religion and The Arts