The term Poor Man's Bible has come into use in modern times to describe works of art within churches and cathedrals which either individually or collectively have been created to illustrate the teachings of the Bible for a largely illiterate population. These artworks may take the form of carvings, paintings, mosaics or stained glass windows. In some churches a single window has the role of Poor Man's Bible while in others, the entire church is decorated with a complex biblical narrative that unites in a single scheme. [1]

The "Poor Man's Bible" window at Canterbury Cathedral 13th century, reconstructed with fragments of perhaps two other windows

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Sources

The Biblia Pauperum

The term Poor Man's Bible is not to be confused with the so-called Biblia Pauperum, a biblical picture book, either of hand-painted manuscript or woodblock printing. The Biblia Pauperum, despite the name given in the 1930's by German scholars, were much too expensive to have been owned by the poor. The Biblia pauperum (Paupers Bible) was a tradition of picture Bibles beginning in the later Middle Ages. ...

But despite the fact that the books were created for the rich, while the carvings and windows of a great church provided free entertainment and instruction to all who entered the doors, there were strong points of similarity in both subject matter and iconography. Iconography usually refers to the design, creation, and interpretation of the symbolism within religious art. ...

Details of two windows from Canterbury Cathedral illustrating different stories but repeating the two left-hand figures, the columns, table, candlestick and book.

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Reproduction of motifs

In a world before the printed book, fidelity to the original in transcribing of books by hand was the only thing that maintained the Bible and other works of literature for posterity.[2] Along with the written words of the document were often transcribed commentaries and illustrations. While talented illuminators added their own style and embellishments, the form of many pictures remained the same, and different scenes or motifs were repeated many times and in different media. There is, for example a particular motif of several sheep, one of which has a foot raised to scratch its ear, which occurs in Italy in the 13th and 14th century in manuscript illumination, wall paintings and carved stone panels. [3] A motif of paired flying winged figures which is seen on pagan Roman sarcophagi passed into Christian art as a very commonly-used portrayal of angels. [4][5] The reproduction of figures from manuscripts was particularly common in stained glass windows with various Biblia Pauperum being frequent sources. The printing press is a mechanical device for printing many copies of a text on rectangular sheets of paper. ... The Gutenberg Bible owned by the United States Library of Congress The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hē biblos, the book) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Work of God, The Word, The Good Book or Scripture), is the name used by Jews and Christians for their differing (and overlapping) canons... In literature, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance. ... An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript, often of a religious nature, in which the text is supplemented by the addition of colourful ornamentation, such as decorated initials, borders and the like. ... A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ... Christian art is art that spans many segments of Christianity. ... The Biblia pauperum (Paupers Bible) was a tradition of picture Bibles beginning in the later Middle Ages. ...

Transfer of ideas

There exists a folio of drawings by Villard de Honnecourt from Picard in France, who between the years of about 1220 and 1230 travelled, for reasons unknown, in France and other parts of Europe as far as Hungary, producing drawings of motifs architectural, scientific and figural. The drawings, for the most part, are not original designs. They are drawn from buildings and artworks that he saw on his travels. In order that they might be utilised as designs for students, they were carefully annotated by a skilled calligrapher and placed into a leather portfolio. They give us a clear indication of the way in which decorative motifs and figurative subjects could be transferred from one region to another and from one artform to another. Self-portrait (?) of Villard de Honnecourt from The Portfolio of Villard de Honnecourt (about 1230) Villard de Honnecourt was possibly a 13th century itinerant master-builder of Picardy in northern France, whose surviving portfolio of drawings (ca 1230s?) is in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (MS Fr 19093). ... Calligraphy (from Greek καλλι calli beauty + γραφος graphos writing) is the art of decorative writing. ... // Finance Main article portfolio (finance) In finance, a portfolio is a collection of investments held by an institution or a private individual. ...

Although the names of many masons, painters, illuminators and stained glass artists are unknown, we are able to trace the movements of some of them. A mason is a worker in brick or stone, now most commonly involved in building walls, but previously also arches and vaults. ... The following list is a partial list of painters. ... An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript, often of a religious nature, in which the text is supplemented by the addition of colourful ornamentation, such as decorated initials, borders and the like. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ...

self portrait of the Benedictine monk, Matthew Paris

• William of Sens mason, was in Canterbury in 1174.
• Matthew Paris writer and draughtsman, from St Albans was in Strondheim in 1248.
• Pierre of Agincourt mason, was in Naples in 1270 [6]
• Hugh Wilfred mason, from London was in Avignon in 1321 [7]
• Mathieu d'Arras mason, from Avignon was in Prague in 1344 [8]
• Jan van Eyck painter, from Maeseyck was in Lisbon in 1428
• Juan de Colonia mason, from Cologne was in Burgos in 1442 [9]
• John Morow mason, from Paris was in Melrose in 1450 [10]
• Hugo van der Goes painter, from Ghent was in Florence in 1475
• Veit Stoss sculptor, from Nuremburg was in Cracow in 1477

Download high resolution version (1543x1029, 155 KB)Illustration from London, British Library, MS Royal 14 C VII, folio 6r, self-portrait of Matthew Paris. ... Download high resolution version (1543x1029, 155 KB)Illustration from London, British Library, MS Royal 14 C VII, folio 6r, self-portrait of Matthew Paris. ... William of Sens was a Twelfth century French architect, supposed to have been born at Sens. ... Self portrait of Matthew Paris from a manuscript of his chronicle (London, British Library, MS Royal 14. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Melrose Abbey, June 2004 Melrose Abbey, located in Melrose, Scotland, was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. ... Hugo van der Goes (c. ... Veit Stoss painted by Jan Matejko Veit Stoss (Polish: Wit Stwosz) (ca. ...

Media, and where they are located

Mural

A mural is a painting on the surface of a plastered wall, the term coming from the Latin, muralis. It is cheap compared with mosaic and stained glass, and can be extremely durable under good conditions, but liable to be damaged by damp and stained by candle smoke. Narrative murals are generally located on the upper walls of churches, while the lower walls may be painted to look like marble or drapery. They also occur on arches, vaulted roofs and domes. Salle des illustres, ceiling painting, by Jean André Rixens. ... For ARCH models, see autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity. ... In architecture, a vault is an arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy. ... St Peters Basilica, Rome A dome is a common structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. ...

History and application in churches

Moldovita Monastery, Romania

Murals were a common form of wall decoration in ancient Rome. The earliest Christian mural paintings come from the catacombs of Rome. They include many representations of Christ as the Good Shepherd, generally as a standardised image of a young, beardless man with a sheep on his shoulders. Other popular subjects include the Madonna and Child, Jonah being thrown into the sea, the three young men in in the furnace and the Last Supper. In one remarkable mural, in the Catacomb of the Aurelii, is the earliest image of Jesus, as he came to be commonly depicted, as a bearded, Jewish man in long robes. In this particlur image he is preaching, not to a group of people but to a flock of sheep and goats, representing the faithful and the wayward. [11] Mural painting was to become a common form of enlightening decoration in Christian churches. Biblical themes rendered in mural can be found all over the Christian world. They are a more common form of church decoration in some regions than others. Painted churches are common throughout those areas where the Orthodox Church prevails. In Romania there is an unusual group of churches in which it is the exterior rather than the interior which is richly decorated, the large arcaded porches containing images of the Last Judgement.[12] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 115 KB) Summary Moldoviţa Monastery (Bukovina) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 115 KB) Summary Moldoviţa Monastery (Bukovina) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Catacombs of Rome are ancient Jewish and Christian underground burial places near Rome, Italy. ... The Good Shepherd is a nautical novel by CS Forester, the author of the novels about fictional Royal Navy officer Horatio Hornblower. ... In Jörg Breu the Youngers painting, the Madonna and Child fix the spectator with a gaze that invites the pious to contemplation and prayer The Madonna and Child is one of the central icons of Christianity. ... The Prophet Jonah, as depicted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel Jonah (יוֹנָה Dove, Standard Hebrew Yona, Latin Ionas, Tiberian Hebrew Yônāh) was a person in the Biblical Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh, the son of Amittai, from the Galilean village of Gath-hepher, near Nazareth. ... The Last Supper fresco in Milan (1498), by Leonardo da Vinci According to gospel, the Last Supper was the last meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his death. ... Several Christian Churches or church bodies are commonly referred to as Orthodox. Most of them are identifiable as part of Eastern Christianity. ... Image:Michelangelo - Fresco of the Last Judgment. ...

Mural painting was also common in Italy, where the method employed was generally fresco, painting on freshly-laid, slightly damp plaster. Many fine examples have survived from the Medieval and Early Renaissance periods. Remarkably, the best known example of such Biblical story-telling was not created for the edification of the poor but for the rich and powerful, the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel created by Michelangelo for Pope Julius II. Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ... The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral ( 1145). ... In the traditional view, the Renaissance is understood as a historical age that was preceded by the Middle Ages and followed by the Reformation. ... The entire ceiling Diagram of the ceiling The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City was painted by Michelangelo during the Italian Renaissance between 1508 and 1512. ... Chalk portrait of Michelangelo by Daniele da Volterra Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet. ... Julius II, born Giuliano della Rovere (December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513), was Pope from 1503 to 1513. ...

Murals occur in France, particularly in the south where the walls tend to be wider, rather than the north where the art of stained glass prevailed. In England, few examples survived the depredations of the Reformation. Some fine Early Medieval examples exist in Germany and Spain. The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ...

Mosaic

Late Roman mosaic at the Church of Santa Pudenziana, Rome

Mosaic is the art of decorating solid surfaces with pieces of multi-coloured stone or glass set in mortar. Golden mosaic can be created by applying gold leaf to a single surface of a transparent glass tile, and placing the gilt inwards towards the mortar so that it is visible but cannot be scraped. The gilt tiles are often used as a background to figures, giving a glowing and sumptuous effect. Mosaic can be applied equally well to flat or curved surfaces and is often used to decorate vaults and domes. In churches where mosaic is applied extensively, it gives an impression that the interior of the church has been spread with a blanket of pictures and patterns. [13] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1481 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1481 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Mosaic is the art of decoration with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. ... Gold leaf is a sheet of real, nearly pure gold, worked into extremely thin sheets only a few micrometres thick. ... Mission, or barrel, roof tiles A tile is a small, manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as clay or stone used for covering roofs, floors, and walls, or other objects such as tabletops. ...

History and application in churches

Mosaic was a common form of decoration throughout the Roman Empire and because of its durability was usually applied to floors, where it was at first executed in pebbles or small marble tiles. During the Early Christian period glass tiles were used extensively for wall and vault decorations, the vault of the Mausoleum of Santa Costanza in Rome being a fine example of decorative, non-narrative Christian mosaic. A perhaps unique example of Late Roman pictorial mosaic is the magnificent apsidal mosaic of the Church of Santa Pudenziana. The nearby church, dedicated to her sister Santa Prassede, has mosaics which are Byzantine in style.[14] For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Early Christians is a term used to refer to the early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, before the emergence of established Christian orthodoxy. ... View of the mausoleum of Santa Costanza from the Constantinian cemetery basilica. ... Main entrance of the church. ... Inside of Santa Prassede. ...

Mosaic was a favourite form of decoration in the Byzantine period and richly decorated churches in this style can be seen throughout Greece, in Turkey, Italy, Sicily, Russia and other countries. In the 19th century, gold mosaics were applied to the domes of the chancel of St Pauls Cathedral in London, illustrating the Creation. [15] The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ on the walls of the upper southern gallery. ... Sicilian redirects here. ... For alternative meanings see St. ... Look up Creation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Creation is the following: Generally, creation is the act or result of bringing something into existence from nothing at all. ...

Stone

Reims Cathedral- the Annunciation and the Visitation

Sculpture in stone in seemingly the most permanent way of creating images. Because stone is a durable to the weather, it is the favoured way of adding figurative decoration to the exteriors of church buildings, either with free-standing statues, figures that form a structural part of the building, or panels of pictorial reliefs. Unfortunately with the polution and acid rain of the 19th and 20th centuries, much architectural sculpture that had remained reasonably intact for centuries has rapidly deteriorated and become unrecognizable in the last 150 years. On the other hand, much sculpture that is located within church buildings is as fresh as the day it was carved. Because it is often made of the very substance of the building which houses it, narrative stone sculpture is often found internally to be decorating features such as capitals, or as figures located within the apertures of stone screens. Image File history File links Reims6. ... Image File history File links Reims6. ... An Italian Futurist sculpture by Umberto Boccioni at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA). ... Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. ... This article concerns places that serve as centers of government and politics. ...

History and application in churches

The first Christian sculpture took the form of sarcophagi, or stone coffins, modelled on those of non-Christian Romans. Hence, there were often small narrative panels, or images of Christ enthroned and surrounded by Saints. In Byzantine Italy, the application of stone reliefs of this nature spread to cathedra (bishop's thrones), ambo (reading lecterns), well heads, baldachin (canopy over altar) and other objects within the church, where it often took on symbolic form such as paired doves. Capitals of columns tended to be decorative, rather than narrative. It was in Western Europe, Northern France in particular, that sculptural narrative reached great heights in the Romanesque and Gothic periods, decorating, in particular, the great West Fronts of the cathedrals, the style spreading from there to other countries of Europe. In England, figurative architectural decoration most frequently was located in vast screens of niches across the West Front. Unfortunately, like the frescoes and windows, they were decimated in the Reformation. [16] [17] The cathedra of the Pope in the apse of St. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller at Rhodes under a canopy of estate, on a dais: there is a cushion under his feet A baldachin, baldachino or baldacchino is a canopy of state over an altar or throne, It had its beginnings as a cloth canopy, but in other... Interior of the Saint-Saturnin church St-Sernin, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end Romanesque sculpture, cloister of St. ... The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral ( 1145). ... The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ...

Stained glass

The Ascension, window from Himmelfahrtskirche, Dresden-Leuben, 1901

Stained glass windows are created by cutting pieces of coloured glass to match a drawn template and setting them into place in a mesh of lead cames and supporting the whole with rigid metal bars. Details such as facial features can be painted on the surface of the glass, and stains of bright yellow applied to enliven white areas. The effect is to add an appearance of brilliance and richness to a church interior, while the media lends itself to narratives. If the lead is properly maintained, stained glass is extremely durable and many windows have been in place for centuries. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (516x722, 93 KB) // Beschreibung Description Author Schwalbe Camera Olympus C-4000Z Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (516x722, 93 KB) // Beschreibung Description Author Schwalbe Camera Olympus C-4000Z Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible Metadata This file contains additional... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ...

History and application in churches

In Italy, during the Byzantine period, windows were often filled with thin slices of alabaster, which although not figurative, gave a brightly patterned effect when sunlight was transmitted through them. There is a rare example of alabaster being used for a figurative subject in the Dove of the Holy Spirit, in the chancel of St Peter's in Rome. [18] The earliest known figurative stained glass panel is a small head of Christ (with many fragments missing) found in a ditch near the royal abbey of Lorsch-an-der-Bergstrasse and thought to date from the 9th century. Although a few panels dating from the 10th and 11th centuries exist in museums, the earliest known that are in situ are four panels of King David and three prophets at Augsburg Cathedral in Germany dating from about 1100.[19] Stained Glass windows were a major art form in the cathedrals and churches of France, Spain, England and Germany. Although not as numerous, there are also some fine windows in Italy, notably those at the base of the dome in Florence Cathedral, which were designed by the most famous Florentine artists of the early 15th century including Donatello, Uccello and Ghiberti.[20] The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Alabaster (sometimes called satin spar) is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum (a hydrous sulfate of calcium) and the calcite (a carbonate of calcium). ... In various religions, most notably Trinitarian Christianity, the Holy Spirit (also called the Holy Ghost; in Hebrew רוח הקודש Ruah haqodesh) is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. ... The Basilica of Saint Peter from Castel SantAngelo. ... The Imperial Abbey of Lorsch (Laureshamense Monasterium, called also Laurissa and Lauresham) in the German state of Hesse about 10mi/6km east of Worms, was one of the most renowned monasteries of the Carolingian empire. ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... Santa Maria del Fiore Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as the Duomo) is Florences cathedral, noted for its distinctive dome. ... Statue of Donatello outside the Uffizi, Florence Donatello (Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi) (1386 - December 13, 1466) was a famous Florentine artist and sculptor of the early Renaissance. ... Paolo Uccello. ... Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378 - December 1, 1455) was an important Renaissance artist, specializing in sculpture and metalworking. ...

Panel painting

The visit of the Three Kings by Gentile da Fabriano, 1423, tempera on wood

Panel Paintings are those done on specially prepared wooden surfaces. Before the technique of oil painting was introduced by the Dutch masters of the 15th century, panel paintings was done using tempera in which powdered colour was mixed with egg yolk. It was applied on a white ground, the colours being built up in layers, with tiny brushstrokes, the details often finished with gold leaf. With the invention of oil painting and its introduction to Italy and other countries of Europe, it became easier to create large works of art. Download high resolution version (908x730, 188 KB)Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabriano (1423) Tempera on wood, 300 x 282 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Source: http://gallery. ... Download high resolution version (908x730, 188 KB)Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabriano (1423) Tempera on wood, 300 x 282 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Source: http://gallery. ... A 1367 tempera on wood by Niccolò Semitecolo. ...

History and application in churches

In the 1st century a similar technique was employed in Egypt to paint funerary portraits. Many of these remain in excellent condition. Tempera panels were a common art form in the Byzantine world and are the preferred method for creating icons. Because the method was very meticulous, tempera paintings are often small,and were frequently grouped into a single unit with hinged sections, known as a diptych, triptych or polyptych, depending on its number of parts. Some large altarpiece paintings exist, particularly in Italy where, in the 13th century, Duccio, Cimabue and Giotto created the three magnificent Madonnas that now hang in the Uffizi Gallery, but once graced three of the churches of Florence. With the development of oil painting, oil on panel began to replace tempera as a favoured method of enhancing a church. The oil paint lent itself to a richer and deeper quality of colour than tempera, and permitted the painting of textures in a ways that were highly realistic. A 1367 tempera on wood by Niccolò Semitecolo. ... A polyptych (from the Greek polu- many + ptychÄ“ fold) generally refers to a painting (usually panel painting) which is divided into four or more sections, or panels. ... Maestà (Madonna with Angels and Saints) (1308-11) Tempera on wood, 214 x 412 cm Museo dellOpera del Duomo, Siena Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. ... Crucifix (1287-88) Panel, 448 x 390 cm Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence Cenni di Pepo (Giovanni) Cimabue (c. ... There are several things that have been named Giotto: Giotto di Bondone an Italian painter. ... Madonna may be: People The Madonna, Mary, the mother of Jesus Madonna (entertainer) Madonna Wayne Gacy Diego Maradona Places House of the Black Madonna Madonna del Ghisallo, hill Madonna Inn, motel Madonna of the Trail, series of historical monuments Madonna Oriente Other Lady Madonna, song Madonna lily Black Madonna Madonna... The Uffizi Gallery (Italian Galleria degli Uffizi) is a palace or palazzo in Florence, holding one of the most famous museums in the world. ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... View of Delft in oil paint, by Johannes Vermeer. ...

Oil on canvas

The Crucifixion of St Peter by Caravaggio, in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome

Oil paint comprises ground pigment mixed with linseed and perhaps other oils. It is a medium which takes a long time to dry, and lends itself to varied methods and styles of application. It can be used on a rigid wooden panel, but because it remains flexible, it can also be applied to a base of canvas made from densely-woven linen flax, hence, the linseed oil and the canvas base are both products of the same plant which is harvested in Northern Europe. With canvas spread over a wooden frame as a base, paintings can be made very large and still light in weight, and relatively transportable though liable to damage. In the latter 15th century, oil paintings were generally done in a meticulous manner that simulated the smoothness and luminescent layering of tempera. In the 16th century the handling of the paint became freer and painters exploited the possibility of laying paint on in broad, visible and varied brushstrokes. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (618x800, 120 KB) Summary Michelangelo Merisi, aka Caravaggio: , Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (618x800, 120 KB) Summary Michelangelo Merisi, aka Caravaggio: , Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome. ... Caravaggio painted by Ottavio Leoni around 1621. ... View of Delft in oil paint, by Johannes Vermeer. ... Binomial name Linum usitatissimum L. Linnaeus, 17?? Common flax (also known as linseed) is a member of the Linaceae family, which includes about 150 plant species widely distributed around the world. ... Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other functions where sturdiness is required. ... Torn linen cloth, recovered from the Dead Sea Linen is a material made from the fibers of the flax (and historically, cannabis) plant. ...

History and application in churches

Oil paintings initially became a popular method for producing altarpieces and soon replaced tempera for this purpose. The ease with which large paintings could be created meant that not only did very large altar paintings proliferate, taking the place of polyptychs made of small panels, but because they were of relatively light weight, such pictures could be used on ceilings, by setting them into wooden frames and without the trouble of the artist having to work laboriously on a scaffold. Famous Venetian painters, Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese produced many such pictures. Pieter Paul Rubens painted a "Passion of Christ" in a number of large and magnificent canvases. Oil painting is done on surfaces with pigment ground into a medium of oil - especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. ... An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. ... Scaffold may refer to: scaffolding as used in construction A gallows The Scaffold, UK musical group Scaffold - GNOME Development Environment Scaffold (Protein ECM) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Titians self-portrait, 1566. ... Detail of a self-portrait Tintoretto (real name Jacopo Robusti; 1518 - May 31, 1594) was one of the greatest painters of the Venetian school and probably the last great painter of Italian Renaissance. ... Veronese means either of the following things: the painter Paolo Veronese someone or something from Verona, Italy. ... Pieter Pauwel (Peter Paul) Rubens (June 28, 1577 - May 30, 1640) was a Flemish baroque painter. ... The Passion is the technical term for the suffering and Agony of Jesus that led directly to the Crucifixion, a central Christian event. ...

Wood

Altarpiece from Chur in Switzerland

Because the nature of wood lends itself to easy working it has been a favoured material for decorative fittings within churches. It can be carved, veneered and inlaid with other materials. It can be laquered, painted or gilt. It can be used for artifacts and free-standing sculptures. It is relatively robust unless finely carved, but must be protected from mold and insects. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1197x878, 342 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1197x878, 342 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Sculptor redirects here. ...

History and application in churches

In the Byzantine period ivory rather than wood was the preferred material for carving into small religious objects, caskets, panels and furniture, the throne of Maximianus, with carved reliefs of Biblical stories and saints, being the finest example. The oldest large wooden sculpture to have survived in Europe is the painted and gilt oak Crucifix of Archbishop Gero, 969-971 CE, in Cologne Cathedral.[21] Subsequent to this time, there are an increasing number of surving large Crucifixes and free-standing statues, large and small, often of the Virgin and Child. Much of the wooden furniture in churches is richly decorated with carved figures, as are structural parts such as roof bosses and beams. Carved and decorated wooden screens and reredos remain from the 13th century onwards. In Germany, in particular, the skill of making carved altarpieces reached a high level in the Late Gothic/Early Renaissance. In Belgium wood carving reached a height in the Baroque period, when the great pulpits were carved. An elaborately carved ivory decoration Ivory is a hard, white, opaque substance that is the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals such as the elephant, hippopotamus, walrus, mammoth, narwhal, etc. ... Maximianus (d. ... A crucifix amidst the cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, Austria A handheld crucifix A crucifix in front of the Holy Spirit Church in Košice, Slovakia A crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesuss body, or corpus. ... Ornamented arch above one of the cathedrals entrances The main entrance The Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, official name ) is one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Colognes most famous landmark since its completion in the late 19th century. ... Besides its original meaning, of or relating to the Goths (Gothos, Getas), a Germanic tribe and thus the Gothic language and the Gothic alphabet, the word Gothic has been used to refer to distinctly different things: From a Renaissance perspective (originally Italian, gotico, with connotations of rough, barbarous), it conveyed... In the traditional view, the Renaissance is understood as a historical age that was preceded by the Middle Ages and followed by the Reformation. ... Baroque art is the painting and sculpture associated with the Baroque cultural movement, a movement often identified with Absolutism and the Counter Reformation; the existence of important Baroque art and architecture in non-absolutist and Protestant states, however, undercuts this linking. ...

Metal

The Reliquary of the Twenty Martyrs, Flemish, Gothic

Christian metalwork can can take a vast number of forms, from a tiny Crucifix to a large statue or elaborate tomb or screen. The metals used can range from the finest gold leaf or silver filigree to cast bronze and wrought iron. Metal was commonly used for Communion vessels, for candelabra and all types of small fittings, and leant itself to being richly decorated by a number of techniques. It can be moulded, hammered, twisted, engraved, inlaid and gilded. If properly maintained, metal is extremely durable. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1324x1164, 339 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1324x1164, 339 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create parts or structures. ... A crucifix amidst the cornfields near Mureck in rural Styria, Austria A handheld crucifix A crucifix in front of the Holy Spirit Church in Košice, Slovakia A crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesuss body, or corpus. ... A tomb is a small building (or vault) for the remains of the dead, with walls, a roof, and (if it is to be used for more than one corpse) a door. ... The term screen has a number of meanings: A window screen is a wire mesh that covers a window opening to keep out insects even when the window is open. ... Assorted ancient bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... A wrought iron railing in Troy, New York. ... Communion has several meanings within Christianity. ... Candelabra is a nickname in the USA for radio masts and radio towers with multiple tops. ...

History and application in churches

From the early Byzantine period there remain a number of Communion vessels, some of which, like the paten found at Antioch, have repousse decoration of religious subjects. From the 8th century come Byzantine crucifixes and the famous Ardagh Chalice from Ireland, decorated with cloisonne. From the Romanesque period onwards are the golden Altar frontal of Basel Cathedral, 1022, Bonnano Pisano's bronze doors at Monreale Cathedral, 1185, the magnificent font of St Michael's, Hildesheim, 1240 and reliquaries, altar frontals and other such objects. In the early 1400s the renowned sculptor, Donatello was commissioned to create series of figures for the chancel screen of the Basilica di Sant' Antonio in Padua. Communion has several meanings within Christianity. ... Antioch on the Orontes (Greek: Αντιόχεια η επί Δάφνη, Αντιόχεια ή επί Ορόντου or Αντιόχεια η Μεγάλη; Latin: Antiochia ad Orontem, also Antiochia dei Siri), the Great Antioch or Syrian Antioch was an ancient city located on the eastern side (left bank) of the Orontes River about 30 km from the sea and its port, Seleucia of Pieria (Suedia, now Samanda... Repoussé (French for pushed up) is a metalwork technique in which a malleable metal is ornamented or shaped by hammering from the reverse side. ... The Ardagh Chalice, which ranks with the Book of Kells as one of the finest known works of Celtic art, is thought to have been made in the 9th century AD. A large, two-handled silver cup, decorated with gold, gilt bronze, brass, lead pewter and enamel, assembled from 354... Cloisonn is a multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items. ... Location within Switzerland Basel (British English traditionally: Basle and more recently Basel , German: Basel , French: Bâle , Italian and Spanish: Basilea ) is Switzerlands third most populous city (166,563 inhabitants (2004); 690,000 inhabitants in the conurbation stretching across the immediate cantonal and national boundaries made Basel Switzerlands... Monreale (contraction of monte-reale, so-called from a palace built here by Roger I of Sicily) is a small city in the province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy, on the slope of Monte Caputo, overlooking the beautiful and very fertile valley called La Conca doro (the Golden Shell... Statue of Donatello outside the Uffizi, Florence Donatello (Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi) (1386 - December 13, 1466) was a famous Florentine artist and sculptor of the early Renaissance. ... Tronco Maestro Riviera: a pedestrian walk along a section of the inland waterway or naviglio interno of Padua. ...

Mixed media

The Altar of the Sacrament, Wallfahrtskirche, Steinhausen

It is normal for many objects to combine several media. Oil paintings, for example, usually come in ornate frames of gilt wood. Among the most sumptuous and decorative objects that are to be found within churches are those constructed of mixed media, in which any of the above may be combined. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 682 KB) Wallfahrtskirche Steinhausen Fotograf: Michail Jungierek, 22. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 682 KB) Wallfahrtskirche Steinhausen Fotograf: Michail Jungierek, 22. ...

History and application in churches

In the Basilica di San Marco, Venice is the famous Pala d'Oro, a glorious altarpiece pieced together over several hundred years so that it has elements of the Gothic as well as the Byzantine. The Pala d'Oro is made of gold and is set with enamels, jewels, semi-precious stones and pearls. In the Baroque period the use of mixed media reached a high point as great altarpieces were constructed out of marble, wood and metal, often containing oil paintings as well. Some of these altarpieces create illusionistic effects, as if the viewer were having a vision. Other objects that are commonly of mixed media are devotional statues, particularly of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which most commonly have faces of painted plaster, but also of wax, ivory, porcelain and terracotta. They are often dressed in elaborate satin garments decorated with metalic braid and lace, pearls, beads and occasionally jewels and may be decked with jewellery and trinkets offered by the faithful. Another important mixed-media art form is the tableau, which may comprise a Gethsemane or a Christmas Creche. These may be elaborate and exquisite, or may be assembled by the Sunday School using cotton-reels bodies, ping-pong ball heads and bottle-top crowns. Italian: Basilica di San Marco) is the most famous of the churches of Venice and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. ... Pala dOro (literally, Golden Pall) is a high altar retable of the Basilica di San Marco in Venice. ... Besides its original meaning, of or relating to the Goths (Gothos, Getas), a Germanic tribe and thus the Gothic language and the Gothic alphabet, the word Gothic has been used to refer to distinctly different things: From a Renaissance perspective (originally Italian, gotico, with connotations of rough, barbarous), it conveyed... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... The word enamel can mean more than one thing: Tooth enamel Vitreous enamel Enamel (markup language) Enameled wire This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. ... A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. ... For other things called pearl, see pearl (disambiguation). ... Baroque art is the painting and sculpture associated with the Baroque cultural movement, a movement often identified with Absolutism and the Counter Reformation; the existence of important Baroque art and architecture in non-absolutist and Protestant states, however, undercuts this linking. ... Blessed Virgin Mary A traditional Catholic picture sometimes displayed in homes. ... A figurine made of porcelain For the indie band Fine China see Fine China. ... Terra cotta is a hard semifired waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and building construction. ... Tableau vivant, Folies Bergères c. ... The Garden of Gethsemane. ... A traditional nativity scene from Naples, Italy A nativity scene, also called a crib or crèche (meaning crib or manger in French) generally refers to any depiction of the birth or birthplace of Jesus. ... Regional competition level table tennis, showing table, net, and player getting ready to return the ball with a winning backhand topspin stroke. ...

Schemes

Bible Stories

The Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald, from the Church at Colmar

The story of Joseph in Egypt from the "Gates of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti

Life of Jesus Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1136x801, 134 KB) Matthias Grünewald, Isenheim Altarpiece (first view) OÅ‚tarz z Isenheim (widok pierwszy), ok. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1136x801, 134 KB) Matthias Grünewald, Isenheim Altarpiece (first view) OÅ‚tarz z Isenheim (widok pierwszy), ok. ... The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, by Matthias Grunewald Matthias Grünewald (c1470-1528) is one of the greatest figures in German Renaissance art. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 614 KB) Summary Story of Joseph; bronze door Gates of Paradise of Baptistry, Florence, Italy Own photo - photo made on 13 October 2005 Licensing [ên:Battistero di San Giovanni (Florence)]] File links The following pages link to this file: Battistero... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x960, 614 KB) Summary Story of Joseph; bronze door Gates of Paradise of Baptistry, Florence, Italy Own photo - photo made on 13 October 2005 Licensing [ên:Battistero di San Giovanni (Florence)]] File links The following pages link to this file: Battistero... Lorenzo Ghiberti on Gates of Paradise, Baptisterio, Florence self portrait Lorenzo Ghiberti (Florence, 1378 - Florence, December 1, 1455) was an Italian artist of the early Renaissance best known for works in sculpture and metalworking. ...

The most common theme for the Poor Man's Bible is the story of the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. This may be related in a continuous sequence of pictures, either in paint, mosaic, wood sculpture or stained glass, and located either around the walls of a church or, particularly in French Cathedrals, in niches in a screen that surrounds the Sanctuary, so that they might be seen by people walking around the ambulatory. The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus. ... Jesus (8–2 BC/BCE — 29–36 AD/CE),[1] also known as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity. ... The Passion is the theological term used for the suffering, both physical and mental, of Jesus in the hours prior to and including his trial and execution by crucifixion. ... According to the Trinitarian interpretation of the New Testament, Jesus was both human and God, so he had the power to lay his life down and to take it up again; thus after Jesus died, he came back to life. ... The ambulatory (Med. ...

Frequently only one aspect of Jesus' life is illustrated, most commonly his Death and Resurrection. But the theme may differ from church to church. A church located near a hospital might have windows that focus upon the miraculous healings. Another church might have aspects of Jesus' life that stress works of charity and service to others. These sort of themes are particularly prevalent in 19th and 20th century churches.

Life of the Virgin

Another form of "biblical" narrative that is sometimes illustrated is the early life of Mary, drawn from a book called the "Infancy Gospel of James" and written about the middle of the 2nd century CE. In some cases it becomes a seamless visual narrative with the Birth of Christ. The Gospel of James also sometimes known as the Infancy Gospel of James or the Protevangelium of James probably written about AD 150. ...

Stations of the Cross

An important form of this visual narration is the so-called Stations of the Cross, telling of the trial and execution of Jesus. These appear in almost all Roman Catholic churches and are used for devotional puposes as the prompts for a series of meditations and prayers. The Stations of the Cross usually take the form of oil paintings, molded and painted plaster or carved wood set into frames and suspended on the aisle walls so that the sequence may be easily followed. The Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa) refers to the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the Catholic devotion commemorating the Passion. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... A large statue in Bangalore depicting Shiva meditating Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind, often formalized into a specific routine. ... Maria Magdalene in prayer. ...

Old Testament The aspect of the Old Testament that appears most frequently in a continuous narrative form is the Creation and the Downfall of humankind through the actions of Adam and Eve. Extensive schemes of Old Testament stories are comparatively rare. There are, however, two such frescoed schemes in Italy, one painted by Giusto de Menabuoi in the Baptistery of the Cathedral of Padua in the 14th Century and another of about the same date by Bartolo di Fredi in the Collegiate Church in San Gimignano. By far the best known of such schemes is the one created in bronze for the doors of the Baptistery of Florence by Lorenzo Ghiberti, the so-called "Gates of Paradise". Look up Creation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Creation is the following: Generally, creation is the act or result of bringing something into existence from nothing at all. ... Essentially, original sin is the doctrine, shared in one form or another by most Christian churches, that the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden changed or damaged human nature, such that all human beings since then are innately predisposed to sin, and are powerless to overcome... It has been suggested that portions of this article be split into a new article entitled Adam. ... Tronco Maestro Riviera: a pedestrian walk along a section of the inland waterway or naviglio interno of Padua. ... San Gimignano. ... The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St John) is believed to be the oldest building in Florence. ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378 - December 1, 1455) was an important Renaissance artist, specializing in sculpture and metalworking. ...

Lives of the Saints

St Christopher with St Maurice and St Giles by Memling, 1484

Many churches and cathedrals are dedicated to a particular biblical or early Christian saint and bear the name of that saint. Other churches have been founded by or have been associated with some person who was later canonised. These associations are often celebrated in the decoration of the church, to encourage to worshippers to emulate the piety, good works, or steadfast faith of the saint. Sometimes saints are shown together in a sort of pictorial gallery, but the depiction of narratives is also common. This may take the form of a single incident, such as Saint Sebastian tied to a tree and bristling with arrows or St Christopher carrying the Christ Child across the river, or the saint's life may be shown in a narrative sequence, similar to the way in which the life of Jesus is depicted. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3176x2485, 529 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3176x2485, 529 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Poor Mans Bible ... This article is about the Christian saint known as Christopher. ... Saint Maurice (also Moritz or Mauritius) was the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century. ... Saint Giles (Latin Ægidius) was a 7th-8th century Christian hermit saint. ... St Ursula Shrine by Hans Memling (1489) Gilded and painted wood, 87 x 33 x 91 cm Memlingmuseum, Sint-Janshospitaal, Bruges Hans Memling (Memlinc) (c. ... This article discusses the process of declaring saints. ... This article is about St. ... This article is about the Christian saint known as Christopher. ...

The stories of a saint's life may be based on highly reliable sources. On the other hand, some may contained fanciful elements and others may be entirely fictitious. Some of the stories are well known and the saints that they depict are easily recognised. These include St Joan of Arc, St Stephen the first Christian martyr and St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds. There are many other saints whose recognition is highly localised. Among these is Santa Fina of San Gimignano, whose death and funeral were depicted in two exquisite frescoes by Ghirlandaio. Joan of Arc, also known as Jeanne dArc or The Maid of Orleans[1] or Jeanne la Pucelle (6 January 1412 – 30 May 1431),[2] is a national heroine of France and a saint of the Catholic Church. ... Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was one of the first seven deacons chosen by the early church, according to the Acts of the Apostles (vi. ... Saint Francis of Assisi (born in Assisi, Italy, ca. ... San Gimignano. ... An Old Man and with a Strawberry Nose (1480). ...

Prophets, Apostles and Patriarchs

Martyrs and Apostles at Chartres Cathedral

Gallery of 20th century Martyrs at Westminster Abbey, Mother Elizabeth of Russia, Revd Martin Luther King Jnr, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The depiction of prophets, apostles, saints, patriarchs and other people associated with the church often have a place in the decorative scheme. The thematic use of such figures may be a very obvious one. There may, for example, be a row of stained glass windows showing the prophets that predicted the coming of the Messiah. Or within a carved stone screen might stand statues of those monarchs who were particularly devoted to the church. The apostles, usually twelve in number but sometimes accompanied by St Paul, John the Baptist,