<i>The Virgin of Chartres: Making History through Liturgy and the Arts</i> (review)
Laura Hollengreen
Reviewed by: The Virgin of Chartres: Making History through Liturgy and the Arts Laura H. Hollengreen (bio) Arts. By Margot E. Fassler. New Haven London: Yale University Press, 2010. 612 pp. Hardcover. $55.00. In 1993, Fassler published a much cited article in Art Bulletin, “Liturgy Sacred Twelfth-Century Tympana at Chartres” [Vol. 75, 499–520]. it she waded into interpretation imagery one canonical most influential monuments Gothic architecture art, west facade Royal Portal Cathedral Notre Dame Chartres, France. An erudite astute liturgical scholar, provided fresh take on familiar sculpture by grounding more thoroughly sources cathedral than had been done before, emphasizing celebration adventus or arrival Christ history-changing watershed Incarnation, made possible his virgin mother Mary, who fleshly mantle for divinity. Christ’s was turn imitated celebrated every time bishop entered ceremony. present award-winning volume, some seventeen years later, is itself full incarnation that earlier scholarship, now set within wider historical context political ambition, theological development, evolving cult saints, emergence art. As study focused medieval conception takes its place next to other substantial recent studies such as Rachel Fulton’s From Judgment Passion: Devotion 800–1200 (New York: Columbia 2003) Miri Rubin’s Mother God: A Mary Haven: 2009), well countless Marian works art Bissera Pentcheva’s Icons Power: God Byzantium (University Park: Pennsylvania State 2006). Exploring “the ability create long-lasting, liturgically-based, steadily reenacted visions past” puts liturgy center history “making” this town. doing so, acknowledges if heroine story, Bishop Fulbert (d. 1028) hero. Over course book, we see him assiduously expanding developing sermons he authored chants were attributed him: builds up feast Nativity particular, means which linked triple lineage kingship, priesthood, prophecy. At same time, oversees beginning Romanesque reconstruction after fire 1020 destroyed Carolingian building. book beautifully constructed, tacking back forth between development climaxing discussion artistic innovation Portal. It begins with town period, period Viking invasion but also remarkable laid foundation worship Chartres elsewhere throughout later Middle Ages. first chapter already brings us circle from again, opening vision two “fortresses”—cathedral castle—guarding city ending earliest sequence attested church, “Alle celeste necnon,” melody associated military saint Michael Archangel. Along way, demonstrates how preservation honor early Ages tied successive instances power manifested contact [End Page 296] relic her tunic “chemise,” believed worn annunciation birth Christ. Fassler’s tale then proceeds eleventh-century refashioning under Fulbert, when themes Advent anticipation transferred cycle magnify nativity September eighth. suite...
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