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Sponsus - SponsaChristus - Ecclesia : the illustrations of the Song of Songs in the Bible moralisée de Saint-Louis, Toledo, Spain, Cathedral Treasury, Ms. 1 and Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, Ms. lat. 11560 / Illustrations of the Song of Songs in the Bible

Among the considerable manuscript production of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Bible moralisee stands out by the number of miniatures and by the conception of the manuscript itself. The composition and many iconographical themes recall stained glass windows of contemporary cathedrals, such as Chartres, Sens, Bourges, or Canterbury in England. / The manuscript of the Bible moralisee to which this study is partly dedicated, is located in the Treasury of the Toledo cathedral chapter in Spain. This study deals also with the duplicate copy which was realized soon afterwards. The interpretation and illustrations of the verses vary in number according to the books of the Bible. Though being one of the smallest biblical books, the Song of Solomon is given outstanding consideration, more than any other book in the Bible. The central theme--the espousal of the Bride and the Bridegroom, Christ and Ecclesia being its allegory--enjoyed a considerable success in medieval theology. It corresponded to the courtly love atmosphere of its time. Abundant commentary literature and the development of mariology made this book even more popular. About a quarter of the commentary illustrations are dedicated to the theme Christus-Ecclesia. Ecclesia, always crowned, holds the chalice which confirms her sacramental significance. In no other known iconographical medieval programme has Ecclesia such a position. / The question raised by the problematic around this Bible is the eventual intention being at the origin of this order which, without any doubt, emanates from French royalty. Has it been produced to enhance the prestige of royalty? Is it a pedagogical work intended for the education of the royal children? Was it meant to be a royal political gift? The Ecclesia theme in the Bible is the exaltation of, or an hommage to the Church, spiritual or temporal, by the French royalty of the thirteenth century.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.40269
Date January 1996
CreatorsTuchscherer, Jean-Michel, 1942-
ContributorsGalavaris, George (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageDoctor of Philosophy (Department of Art History.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001498983, proquestno: NN12501, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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