Misericords
Type:
Sculptures,
Seats
Date:
Fifteenth century
Medium:
Wood
Description:
A misericord is a small wooden ledge that protrudes from the bottom of a hinged seat to support someone who has to stand in church for a long time, such as a monk or cleric (the Latin term means "mercy of the heart" or "compassion"). Although they began as unadorned supports for weary posteriors, by the thirteenth century misericords were often carved with figural scenes. Some feature moralizing images, meant to instruct their viewers, but often these marginalia are more amusing than pious. They were made all over late medieval Europe but were especially popular in England. Illuminated manuscripts, such as bestiaries, inspired some of the imagery, and other vignettes were disseminated in pattern books, but much was invented by the carvers.
A parish church at Fairford (England) has misericords that likely date to the early fifteenth century. They were recut to fit into seats in the rebuilt church dedicated in 1497. Many of the carvings depict domestic images, including a wife pulling her husband's hair and a sleeping man, both shown here. They may be related to contemporary folklore or parables.
The misericords in the lower choir of the cathedral of Toledo (Spain) depict people, animals, fantastic creatures, and scenes from myth, the Bible, and daily life. The backs of these walnut-wood seats are carved to resemble cut velvet, and the reliefs at the top narrate the Spanish Catholics' conquest of al-Andalus. A workshop led by a Flemish sculptor, Roderic the German (Rodrigo Aleman), took six years to carve the seats in the last decade of the fifteenth century.
A parish church at Fairford (England) has misericords that likely date to the early fifteenth century. They were recut to fit into seats in the rebuilt church dedicated in 1497. Many of the carvings depict domestic images, including a wife pulling her husband's hair and a sleeping man, both shown here. They may be related to contemporary folklore or parables.
The misericords in the lower choir of the cathedral of Toledo (Spain) depict people, animals, fantastic creatures, and scenes from myth, the Bible, and daily life. The backs of these walnut-wood seats are carved to resemble cut velvet, and the reliefs at the top narrate the Spanish Catholics' conquest of al-Andalus. A workshop led by a Flemish sculptor, Roderic the German (Rodrigo Aleman), took six years to carve the seats in the last decade of the fifteenth century.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
10,
11
Repository and Online Resources:
• See more images of the Fairford misericords here.
• For more misericord images, consult the Elaine C. Block Database at the Index of Medieval Art, Princeton.
Image Credits:
Linda Safran
