Noen refleksjoner omkring dyder og laster, kvinnelig og mannlig i middelalderens ikonografi
Kristin B. Aavitsland
In mediaeval art, personifications of virtues and vices are often represented as women. This article addresses the issue gender in medieval representation moral categories. A survey iconography from ninth to thirteenth centuries reveals a certain variation. Carolingian especially illuminated manuscripts Prudentius’ Psychomachia, commonly males, even though their femininity plays decisive role literary text which they illustrate. From eleventh contrasts body language appearance seems more significant than vices. To degree sex role, contrast between asexual perverse, hermaphrodite important female characteristics. But twelfth century on, increasingly female, vice virtue connected different roles society. The virgin, nun widow represent virtuous roles, whereas married thus sexually active woman is latently vicious. Some aspects High culture briefly suggested explain this development, such increasing impact lay piety, idealisation women courtly literature emphasis on feminine Bernardine spirituality.