Envisioning the Bishop: Images and the Episcopacy in the Middle Ages ed. by Sigrid Danielson, and Evan A. Gatti
Sabina Flanagan
Reviewed by: Envisioning the Bishop: Images and Episcopacy in Middle Ages ed. by Sigrid Danielson, Evan A. Gatti Sabina Flanagan Sigrid, Gatti, eds, (Medieval Church Studies, 29), Turnhout, Brepols, 2014; hardback; pp. xx, 452; 7 colour, 45 b/w illustrations, 2 line art; R.R.P. €110.00; ISBN 9782503547992. Studies of secular clergy have for too long taken a back seat to those regulars but society devoted their cause is now starting redress balance. This book second collection published as result panels convened at various conferences EPISCOPUS, very approximate name Society Study Bishops Secular Clergy Ages. The earlier collection, Bishop Reformed (Ashgate, 2007), was reviewed Parergon, 27.1 (2010). present, substantial volume comprises seventeen essays prefaced customary historiographical theoretical introduction. latter relies heavily on work German art historian, Hans Belting, who ‘remind[s] us that images are never isolated. They must be both invented perceived creating complex recurring processes around production, dissemination, affects aftereffects’ (p. 1), sentiments with which, apart perhaps from idea recurrence, few historians would inclined quarrel. An Afterword Maureen C. Miller indicates some common themes emerge concludes ‘Medieval bishops great deal tell about concerns quite contemporary’, citing example ‘how virtue came associated sober attire rather than splendid silks’ 434). Although editors boasts coloured black white studies not confined visual episcopacy. Indeed, roughly half concerned images/ideals/conceptions bishop derived non-visual sources, including Sita Steckel’s Carolingian dedications Sherry Reames’s rewriting vitae St Wulfstan Worcester. A more unusual source episcopal norms – mnemonic verses canon law texts explored Winston Black. an essay which sticks single genre writing. Even narrowly focused Alice Chapman [End Page 230] investigates image found Bernard Clairvaux’s De Consideratione. Others employ degrees intertextuality though lack space means all can mentioned. Thus, Kalani Craig describes Gregory Tours’s use imagery Vulgate reference authority Histories. number combine sources: Deborah M. Deliyannis maps frequency donor portraits Roman churches against different redactions Liber Pontificalis sixth ninth centuries. Joanne Pierce suggests how Sigebert Minden, appearing liturgical books made his personal use, interact written text. Kara Ann Morrow’s sculptured portals Bourges Cathedral particularly adept combining (sculpture, manuscript architectural features) biblical texts, saints’ lives, writings, expository, relating them among other things sacred architecture consecration churches. Information cover promises ‘material Late Antiquity through thirteenth century’ indeed arranged chronologically thematically, each century being represented least once. unexpected bonus beyond stated chronological range William J. Diebold’s fascinating exhibitions featuring Ottonian modern Germany relationship changes political cultural sensibilities. geographical spread less even, largely concentrated Rome France, Germany, England, Ireland. well produced footnotes endnotes individual bibliographies attached essay. plates grouped together front book, while illustrations generally placed proximity relevant However, there major problem p. 162 Dorothy...
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