The Lichfield Angel and the Manuscript Context: Lichfield as a Centre of Insular Art
Michelle Brown
It has long been surmised that Lichfield, which at the end of 8th and beginning 9th centuries even served as England's third archbishopric for a time, may have notable centre religious culture. None less, site's traumatic history despoliation by Viking puritanical Civil War forces led to an absence artworks in situ or early archives. The recent excavation Warwick Rodwell what is thought be shrine St Chad, including carefully deposited remains imposing sculptural slab depicting angel gone some considerable way towards rectifying such lacunae. probably formed half Annunciation panel acted gable from stone house-shaped tomb, formal stylistic parallels are here adduced. These would suggest date piece late century, time when kings Offa Coenwulf Mercia were both patronising Lichfield. Remarkably, retains much its original polychrome pigmentation unusual palette, consisting shades purple, white black—not most obvious colours use sculpture—raises interesting connections with two manuscripts associated Lichfield: Lichfield Gospels Book Cerne. This paper goes on explore relationship between these works concludes was made during mid-8th Lindisfarne but another likely Chad Lindisfarne's his foundation book features palette purples white, perhaps prompted Bedan exegesis, sculptures added Chad's around 800 coloured similarly complement Gospelbook. Cerne, Bishop Aethelwald (818–30) also colours, inter alia, John evangelist symbol offers closest analogy treatment angel's plumage, further reinforcing likelihood origin this important prayerbook.
Journal of the British Archaeological Association