Medieval Treasures from Hildesheim ed. by Peter Barnet, Michael Brandt, and Gerhard Lutz
Leslie S. Jacoby
Reviewed by: Medieval Treasures from Hildesheim ed. by Peter Barnet, Michael Brandt, and Gerhard Lutz Leslie Jacoby Hildesheim, (New Haven: Yale University Press 2013) 138 pp., color ill. Printed in conjunction with “Medieval Hildesheim” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 2013 through 5 Janary 2014. As the title this art book indicates, we are given a comprehensive overview diverse treasures created as early ninth century late fifteenth Germany. During expansive medieval period, city became leading ecclesiastical cultural center that would produce rich cache both decorative functional objects come to be safeguarded over centuries St. Mary’s Cathedral Michael’s Church, now World Heritage Sites, today housed Dom-Museum Hildesheim. These superlative religious devotion spiritual illumination all demonstrate unique aesthetic produced art. photographic documentation is superlative. two-part structure text remains straightforward informative. first part covers perfunctory forewords acknowledgements, which offer intriguing perspectives on how extraordinary collection found its path being an important Art. Thereafter Professor Marina Giese, Curator Lutz, Harald Wolter-von dem Knesebeck present complete historical chronological account heritage. It begins eighth- ninth-century references promoters Christian ideals, namely Charlemagne his son Louis Pious, who established bishopric Gunthar 815. Then it tells us when cathedral was consecrated built using “plan … characteristic major cathedrals abbey churches later Carolingian period” (4). carefully details contributions most prolific donor, Bernward (960–1022), Saxon noble thirteenth bishop had greatest influence during nearly thirty-year episcopate. legacy artifacts documents, including valuable biography entitled Vita Bernwardi, underscore importance context material world. Late eleventh-century documents initial written evidence site designations chronicling leaders influential families. Through heritage learn why these were obtained or many leaders, Ottonian monarchy, wealthy family clans centuries. Compelling reading comes survival centuries, especially [End Page 283] Reformation “adoption Lutheranism 1542” threat “secularization church properties [when] monasteries dissolved their dispersed” 1803 (19). Fortunately for collection, Bishop Eduard J. Wedekin eagerly gather diocese’s artworks initiate creation museum proper preservation nineteenth century; final twentieth-century efforts lead treasure’s intact despite Allied bombing devastated 1945. second lists forty-eight specific artworks; each numbered item includes clear relevant identification details, materials used, precise dimensions, date creation, archival location, occasional anecdotal information. This listing six manuscripts (primarily Gospels) two pairs front back covers; one “key monumental wooden” Christ sculpture era miraculously survived (44); four portable altars; crosiers; crosses reliquary cross; five reliquaries; candlesticks; “portable candelabrum three candles Lower tradition leonine works” (112); various miscellaneous ornaments practical pieces. Each offers (and often invaluable) context, but not limited Latin inscriptions respective translations quick explanations practices. For example, 31, Reliquary Saint Oswald, gives detail understanding artifact houses Oswald’s skull history...
Comitatus-a Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies