The Style and Function of the Cameos on the Frame of the Westminster Retable
George Henderson
Abstract The imitation cameos placed around the frame of Westminster Retable had a deeply entrenched cultural context in re-use classical gemstones many examples medieval goldsmiths’ work. But on arguably more local and immediate thirteenth-century context, both stylistically iconographically, choice images displayed. This paper relates paired jugate heads cameo known from photographs but now lost, one surviving head with its very specific winged headdress, to similar other media – book painting sculpture England France. It also, though tentatively, given loss great bulk formerly frame, attempts identify persons represented relation overall programme Retable, not restricting this identification any obvious antique parallels.
The Antiquaries Journal