This study demonstrates that the art motif of the serpent at the foot of the crucifix, which appeared between 850 and 1050 in the northern Frankish kingdom, has previously been misinterpreted, due to critics not paying sufficient attention to the artists' rendering of the serpent. This motif is not a symbol of sin or death, but rather represents the Old Law of Judaism, which was superseded by the New Law of Christianity, symbolized by Christ on the cross. / The origins of this motif derive from liturgical drama, only performed in certain northern Frankish Lotharingian reformed monasteries. History shows the remarkable tenacity of the Franks for their own liturgy, which was more dramatic than the Roman ritual continually imposed. / From the visual evidence of the motif, it seems possible that the serpent candlestick was introduced into the liturgy in the mid-ninth century during the ceremonies for Holy Week, and thereby provided the artists with a model for manuscripts, ivories, rock crystals, metals and at least one fresco. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2724. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74488 |
| Contributors | KIRBY, ELIZABETH ANN., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 166 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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