THE REPRESENTATION OF ANGELS AND ANGELIC ORDERS FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES ...

441 Pages·2010·57.34 MB·English

THE REPRESENTATION OF ANGELS AND ANGELIC ORDERS FROM THE
LATE MIDDLE AGES THROUGH THE REFORMATION c. 1450 - c.1650

Thesis submitted for the degree of

Master of Philosophy

at the University of Leicester

by

Mary Agnes Murphy BA, MA (Leicester)

Department of History of Art and Film

University of Leicester

January 2010
Mary Agnes Murphy:

The Representation of Angels and Angelic Orders from the Late Middle Ages
Through the Reformation c.1450 -c.1650

Abstract:

The field of angelology is vast. This thesis investigates the artistic representations of
angels from the Late Middle Ages through the Reformation, from c.1450 to c.1650.
This is achieved by a careful selection of material which demonstrates how the angelic
form mutated in response to the religious and political changes experienced in England
during this time. Thus, attention has been focussed on three main areas that form the
components of this study:

Chapter one investigates the integral role that angels played in the late-medieval
Catholic belief system, drawing on primary and secondary literature to demonstrate how
scholars viewed angels and specifically, how they categorised and differentiated the
various orders of angels. Chapter two examines four case studies of representations of
the angelic hierarchy at a local and national level, in different media, in order to
evaluate how the doctrine surveyed in chapter one was manifested in artistic practice,
with special attention to how angels were depicted on the eve of the Reformation.

Chapter three examines the Reformation in terms of angelology, with particular regard
to the European and English reformers’ views on the artistic representation of these
celestial creatures, from the beginnings of religious change to the era of the
Commonwealth. The hypothesis that angels were not represented on tomb monuments
in the Elizabethan period is tested, by investigating the counties of Leicestershire and
Rutland, looking at the monuments of the period c. 1550-c.1650. This chapter also
addresses how the English responded to the call of the iconoclasts and investigates
whether angels were treated in the same conceptual and ideological category as the
saints, or if they managed to survive.

I shall contend that despite the changes to Christianity in England, during the period of
concern for this study, angels continued to be part of the faith as demonstrated by their
continued portrayal in art and sculpture.
Acknowledgements

This thesis would not be possible without the support and encouragement of the
following people, to whom I offer my sincerest gratitude: Dr Phillip Lindley, who has
supervised, guided and encouraged me so very well over this entire process, Dr. Dave
Postles, Dr. Guy Sumpter and Dr. Matthew Potter of the University of Leicester, Dr.
Duncan Harding of the University of East Anglia, Dr. David Keck of Duke Divinity
School, Dr. Tobias Capwell of the Wallace Collection, Prof. Carol Barron of Royal
Holloway, University of London, Prof. Richard Marks of University of Cambridge and
Dr. Alexandra Buckle, University of Oxford. My thanks also to the many librarians of
all the archives and libraries that I visited, particularly Michelle Gait of the University
of Aberdeen, Dr. Tony Trowles of Westminster Abbey, Vaughan Whibley of the
Church of England Record Centre and the staff of the British Library and Library of the
Society of Antiquaries. Thanks also to the many clergy and church wardens who gave
up their time and allowed me access into the churches that I visited. Above all, I wish to
thank my parents, family and Dominic, together with Pauline and Geoff, for their
constant love and support.

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List of Contents
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... i
List of Contents ............................................................................................................ ii
List of Figures ............................................................................................................... v
List of Tables ............................................................................................................... ix
PART I –Late Medieval England: The Primary Texts and Secondary Sources . 10
Previous Scholarship on Medieval Angelology................................................... 14
How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin? ......................................... 15
The Angelic Hierarchy......................................................................................... 19
The Bible and Apocrypha: The Basis of an Angelic Hierarchy? ........................ 20
The Establishment of an Angelic Hierarchy ........................................................ 29
The Influence of Dionysius’ Hierarchy ............................................................... 37
Other Texts .......................................................................................................... 50
PART II - The Angelic Hierarchy in Art & Sculpture of the Late Middle Ages . 58
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 58
Angels and the Angelic Hierarchy in England .................................................... 58
Case Studies ......................................................................................................... 62
Case Study A: St. Michael and All Angels, Barton Turf, Norfolk .......................... 67
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 67
An analysis of the screen ..................................................................................... 87
The Panels ........................................................................................................ 98
Powers .............................................................................................................. 99
Virtues ............................................................................................................ 101
Dominations ................................................................................................... 104
Seraphim ........................................................................................................ 109
Cherub ............................................................................................................ 115
Principalities .................................................................................................. 117
Thrones .......................................................................................................... 121
Archangels ..................................................................................................... 124
Angels ............................................................................................................ 127
St. Citha ......................................................................................................... 130
Conclusion: The Nine Orders? .......................................................................... 131
Case Study B: The Beauchamp Chapel ................................................................. 132
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 132
The Documentary Sources ................................................................................. 132
The Earl’s Tomb ................................................................................................ 134
The Reredos ....................................................................................................... 139
The Sculptures surrounding the East Window .................................................. 140
Designer, Sculptor and Style ......................................................................... 140
Purpose............................................................................................................... 144
An Angelic Hierarchy? An Analytical Examination of Chatwin’s Interpretation145
An overview of the Iconography ....................................................................... 146
God the Father Almighty ............................................................................... 150
Seraphim ........................................................................................................ 151
Cherubim ....................................................................................................... 153
Thrones .......................................................................................................... 157
Dominations ................................................................................................... 160
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Domination A/Angel holding a star ............................................................... 161
Domination B/Angel Standing on wheel and holding Cross-staff ................ 164
Domination C/Angel holding open book ....................................................... 168
Domination D/Angel playing a harp .............................................................. 171
Domination E,F,G and H/ Angels with books and sceptres .......................... 173
Powers ............................................................................................................ 175
Power B/ Angel in chain mail ........................................................................ 178
Power C and D ............................................................................................... 179
Virtues ............................................................................................................ 182
Virtue A/Angel with censer and incense boat ............................................... 182
Virtue B/ Angel with bottle, standing on wheel, wearing black skull cap .... 185
Virtue C and D/Angel with Crismatory Box ................................................. 186
Virtue E and F/ Angel with hands crossed on breast ..................................... 188
Principalities .................................................................................................. 190
Principality A and B/Angel with sword and sceptre ...................................... 190
Archangels ..................................................................................................... 190
Gabriel/Angel holding lilies ........................................................................... 192
Angels ............................................................................................................ 194
Angel of the Nativity/Angel with pilgrim’s staff ........................................... 194
The Angel of the Expulsion/Angel with sword and foliage .......................... 196
Shield-bearing Angels .................................................................................... 198
Beauchamp impaling Berkeley ...................................................................... 199
Neville ............................................................................................................ 200
Mauduit of Hanslope ..................................................................................... 201
Toney ............................................................................................................. 203
Censing Angels .............................................................................................. 203
The saints ....................................................................................................... 205
The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy? ........................................................................ 207
A United Programme of Iconography? .......................................................... 209
Conclusions: The Celestial Hierarchy?.............................................................. 209
Case Study C: Henry VII’s Chapel at Westminster Abbey: .................................. 213
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 213
Documentation ............................................................................................... 214
Description and General Observations .......................................................... 215
Previous Scholarship ...................................................................................... 217
Analysis ............................................................................................................. 219
West Wall synopsis ............................................................................................ 229
Synopsis of the angels located at triforium level on the North Aisle ................ 233
South Aisle: Synopsis of Bays 11-13 ................................................................ 244
North and South Aisles chapels ......................................................................... 247
Angels in between 4th / 5th and 9th / 10th bays: Synopsis ................................... 249
Construction of the angels and workshop practice ............................................ 250
Conclusions: The Nine Orders? ......................................................................... 252
Case Study D: A Representation of Angels at a Parochial Level in Leicestershire255
Musical angels in the scheme ............................................................................ 258
Other angels in the scheme ................................................................................ 259
Angels on the monument to Ralph Woodford ................................................... 263
Summary ............................................................................................................ 267
PART III – Reformation England .......................................................................... 269
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 269
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The Development of Angelic Imagery Part II: The Mutations of Angels ......... 269
The Reformation: Background and An Overview of the Secondary Literature 277
Early Reformers’ Reformation of Angelology .................................................. 279
John Calvin and Other Reformers ..................................................................... 286
Angels and Images: The Legitimacy Debate over Image versus Idol by the Early
Reformers........................................................................................................... 291
Henry VIII.......................................................................................................... 293
Edward VI .......................................................................................................... 295
Examples of angels in sermons .......................................................................... 298
Angels Under Mary I: The Manuscript of Robert Parkyn, “Off Hevin” ........... 299
The Elizabethan Settlement & the Treatment of Angels: Images & Idolatry .... 314
The Book of Martyrs.......................................................................................... 316
The ceiling of the church of St. Peter and Paul, Muchelney, Somerset ............. 319
The Stuart era ..................................................................................................... 326
Tomb Monuments of the Stuart Era .................................................................. 331
Leicestershire ................................................................................................. 337
Launde Abbey: Monument to Gregory Cromwell, 1551 ............................... 337
Bottesford, 5th Earl of Rutland, 1612 ............................................................. 345
St Mary, Nevil Holt, Monument to Jane Thursby, 1631 ............................... 348
Monument to Thomas Nevil .......................................................................... 351
Prestwold: St. Andrew: Sir William Skipworth 1631.................................... 354
Rutland ............................................................................................................... 357
Exton: St. Peter and Paul: Monument to Anne, Baroness of Kinlosse .......... 357
The Kelway Monument, St. Peter and Paul, Exton, 1551 ............................. 360
Tixover, St. Mary Magdalene, monument to Roger Dale, 1623 ................... 362
Angels and the Return of Iconoclasm ................................................................ 367
William Dowsing: The Bureaucratic Puritan? ................................................... 368
Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 379
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................ 381
Appendices ................................................................................................................ 386
Appendix A – WARDLE DRAWINGS ................................................................. 387
Appendix B – COTTINGHAM DRAWINGS ....................................................... 398
Appendix C – Off Hevin .......................................................................................... 401
Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 408

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List of Figures

Fig 1-1 Cherub ................................................................................................................ 49
Fig 2.1 Nine Angels, Queen Mary Psalter ...................................................................... 63
Fig 2.2 Nine Orders of Angels at Michael Spurriergate, York ....................................... 64
Fig 2.3 Nine Orders of Angels, Southwold .................................................................... 65
Fig 2. 4 Nine Orders of Angels, Exeter Cathedral Wall Painting ................................... 66
Fig 2.5 Photograph of Roodscreen, Barton Turf ............................................................ 72
Fig 2.6 Diagram of Roodscreen at Barton Turf .............................................................. 73
Fig 2.7 Annunciation panel, at St Michael at Plea .......................................................... 77
Fig 2.8 Detail of naked figures at feet of Angel ............................................................. 78
Fig 2.10 Detail of belts of plate with bells from Knight Fighting Giant Cotton ............ 80
Fig 2.11 Detail of armour of Archangel- roundels and poylens ..................................... 82
Fig 2.12 Detail of armour of Power-salet ....................................................................... 83
Fig 2.13 Detail of exposed collar of Archangel’s padded arming doublet ..................... 83
Fig 2.14 Henry VI in Sir Thomas Holme’s Book of Arms ............................................. 84
Fig 2.15 Altarpiece in the St. Saviour Chapel, Norwich Cathedral ................................ 85
Fig 2.16 William Bruge’s Garter Book .......................................................................... 86
Fig 2.17 Archbishop’s vestments.................................................................................... 93
Fig 2.18 Priest’s vestments – Version A......................................................................... 94
Fig 2.19 Priest’s vestments – Version B ......................................................................... 95
Fig 2.20 Priest’s vestments – Version C ......................................................................... 96
Fig 2.21 Deacon’s vestments – Version A ..................................................................... 97
Fig 2.22 Deacon’s vestments – Version B ...................................................................... 98
Fig 2.23 Inscription: Potestates ..................................................................................... 100
Fig 2.24 Detail of Powers ............................................................................................. 100
Fig 2.25 Inscription: Virtutes ........................................................................................ 103
Fig 2.26 Full Panel of Virtues ....................................................................................... 104
Fig 2.27 Inscription: Dominacōnes ............................................................................... 106
Fig 2.28 Dominations ................................................................................................... 107
Fig 2.29 Inscription ‘serphyn’ ...................................................................................... 111
Fig 2.30 Seraphim ......................................................................................................... 112
Fig 2.31 Inscription: Cherub ......................................................................................... 115
Fig 2.32 Cherub ............................................................................................................ 116
Fig 2.33 Inscription Principatus .................................................................................... 118
Fig 2.34 Principalities ................................................................................................... 120
Fig 2.35 Inscription: ‘Troni’ ......................................................................................... 122
Fig 2.36 Thrones ........................................................................................................... 123
Fig 2.37 Inscription: ‘Archangeli’ ................................................................................ 124
Fig 2.38 Inscription: Arkangeli detail ........................................................................... 125
Fig 2.39 Archangels ...................................................................................................... 126
Fig 2.40 Inscription: ‘Angeli’ ....................................................................................... 127
Fig 2.41 Angels ............................................................................................................. 128
Fig 3.1 The East Window and reredos of the Beauchamp Chapel ............................... 133
Fig 3.2 Angels on tomb of Richard Beauchamp ........................................................... 135
Fig 3.3 Angels from the windows of the east end, south side ...................................... 137
Fig 3.4 Our Lady, Queen of Heaven ............................................................................. 138
Fig 3.5 Plan of Sculptures Surround the East Window, According to Chatwin ........... 148
Fig 3.6 God the Father Almighty .................................................................................. 150
Fig.3.7 Seraph and Cherub ........................................................................................... 151
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Fig 3.8 Queen Mary Psalter: Angels standing on wheels ............................................. 155
Fig 3.9 Southwold Seraph and Cherub ......................................................................... 156
Fig 3.10 Chatwin’s ‘Thrones’ ....................................................................................... 157
Fig 3.11 ‘Throne’ in the Queen Mary Psalter .............................................................. 160
Fig 3.12 Domination A/Angel holding a star ............................................................... 161
Fig 3.13 St. Michael Spurriergate, York: Dominations ................................................ 163
Fig 3.14 Domination B/Angel Standing on wheel and holding cross-staff .................. 164
Fig 3.15 St. Michael, Victoria and Albert Museum ...................................................... 167
Fig 3.16 Domination C/Angel holding open book ....................................................... 169
Fig 3.17 Domination D/Angel playing harp ................................................................. 172
Fig 3.18 Chatwin’s Other Dominations ........................................................................ 174
Fig 3.19 Power / Angel with sword and Orb, standing on demon ................................ 177
Fig 3.20 B/Angel in chain mail ..................................................................................... 179
Fig 3.21: Left: Principality A and B and Right: Power C and D .................................. 180
Left: Angel with cope, sword and sceptre .................................................................... 180
Fig 3.22 Virtue A/Angel with censer and incense boat ................................................ 183
Fig 3.23 Virtue B/Angel with bottle, standing on wheel, wearing black skull cap ...... 185
Fig 3.24 Left: Virtue D, Right Virtue E ....................................................................... 187
Left: Angel with crismatory box ................................................................................... 187
Fig 3.25 Michael/Angel with spear ............................................................................... 191
Fig 3.26 Gabriel/Angel holding lilies ........................................................................... 193
Fig 3.27 The Angel of the Nativity/angel with pilgrim staff ........................................ 195
Fig 3.28. Angel of the Expulsion/Angel with sword and foliage ................................. 198
Fig 3.30 Beauchamp, Beauchamp impaling Berkeley and Latimer ............................. 200
Fig 3.31 Neville ............................................................................................................ 201
Fig 3.32 Mauduit of Hanslope and Toney .................................................................... 202
Fig 3.33 Censing Angels ............................................................................................... 204
Fig 3.34 Female Saints .................................................................................................. 206
Fig 4.1 Plan of the angelic frieze in Henry VII’s chapel (using words) ....................... 220
Fig 4.2 Plan of the angelic frieze in Henry VII’s chapel (using symbols) ................... 221
Fig 4.3 Angel holding sword and wearing armour ....................................................... 222
Fig 4.4 Angel holding sword and wearing armour ....................................................... 223
Fig 4.5 Angel with feathers and girdle ......................................................................... 224
Fig 4.6 Angel with feathers, girdle and amice .............................................................. 224
Fig 4.7 Angel with crossed stole ................................................................................... 225
Fig 4.8 Angel wearing a morse ..................................................................................... 225
Fig 4.9 Angel wearing a morse ..................................................................................... 226
Fig 4.10 West wall angels 1 and 2 ................................................................................ 231
Fig 4.11 Angels 9 and 10 .............................................................................................. 231
Fig 4.12 Angels 11 and 12 ............................................................................................ 232
Fig 4.13 Bay 1 Triforium .............................................................................................. 234
Fig 4.14 Bay 3 triforium ............................................................................................... 234
Fig 4.15 Bay 4 triforium .............................................................................................. 234
Fig 4.16 Bay 5 triforium ............................................................................................... 235
Fig 4.17 Bay 5 axial chapel (North Chapel), right-hand side ....................................... 236
Fig 4.18 Bay 6 triforium ............................................................................................... 236
Fig 4.19 Bay 6 axial chapel (North East Chapel), left-hand side ................................. 237
Fig 4.20 Diagonally symmetrical sculptures across the radiating chapel ..................... 237
Fig 4.21 Bay 7 triforium ............................................................................................... 238
Fig 4.22 Bay 7 ............................................................................................................... 239
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Fig 4.23 Bay 8 triforium ............................................................................................... 239
Fig 4.24 Bay 8 ............................................................................................................... 240
Fig 4.25 Bay 9 triforium ............................................................................................... 241
Fig 4.26 Bay 9 ............................................................................................................... 243
Fig 4.27 Bay 10 triforium ............................................................................................. 245
Fig 4.28 Bay 12 triforium ............................................................................................. 245
Fig 4.29 Bay 13 triforium ............................................................................................. 246
Fig 4.30 North and South Chapels ................................................................................ 247
Fig 4.31 Angels between bays ...................................................................................... 249
Fig 4.33 The construction of a block (end block) ......................................................... 251
Fig 5.1 Plan of roof angels, St. Mary’s Church, Ashby Folville, Leicestershire .......... 256
Fig 5.2 Roof angel holding a shield at St.Mary’s Church, Noseley, Leicestershire ..... 257
Fig 5.3 Angel playing a lute, ......................................................................................... 262
Fig 5.4 Monument to Ralph Woodford ........................................................................ 263
Source: Author’s own photograph, 2006 ...................................................................... 263
Fig 5.5 Shield bearing angels on the monument to Ralph Woodford ........................... 264
Fig 5.6 Demi Angel No 2 .............................................................................................. 266
Fig 5.7 Jesus Christ ....................................................................................................... 266
Fig 6.1 Spiritello, Tabernacle of the Baptismal Font, Siena Cathedral, 1429. ............. 271
Fig 6.2 Detail of Putti on the tomb of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York ..................... 273
Fig 6.3 Title page from Thomas More’s Utopia 1518 .................................................. 275
Fig 6.4 Thomas More’s Epigrammata, 1520 ................................................................ 276
Fig 6.5 Libello – Defence of Seven Sacraments title page ........................................... 294
Fig 6.6 Foxe’s Book of Martyrs: Acts and Monuments, 1563 edition ......................... 318
Fig 6.7 Angels on the ceiling of St. Peter and Paul, Muchelney, Somerset ................. 320
Fig 6.7 Detail of angel at Muchelney ........................................................................... 323
Fig 6.8 Monument to Sir Robert Chamberlayne ........................................................... 333
Fig 6.9 Hart Monument ................................................................................................ 335
Fig 6.10 Monument to Gregory Cromwell, Launde Abbey, 1551 ............................... 339
Fig 6.11 Monument to Richard Neel, 1574 .................................................................. 342
Fig 6.12 Monument to Ambrose Belgrave, 1571 ......................................................... 343
Fig 6.13 Monument to Roland Durant, 1588 ................................................................ 344
Fig 6.14 Monument to the 5th Earl of Rutland ............................................................. 346
Fig 6.15 Detail of cherub heads in coffering of monument to 5th Earl of Rutland ...... 347
Fig 6.16 Detail of putto ................................................................................................. 347
Fig 6.17 Monument to Jane Thursby, 1631 .................................................................. 348
Fig 6.18 Detail of angels drawing back curtains of monument to Jane Thursby ......... 349
Fig 6.19 Monument to Thomas Nevill .......................................................................... 351
Fig 6.20 Detail of putti on monument to Thomas Nevil, 1636 ..................................... 353
Fig 6.21 Detail of cherub head on monument to Thomas Nevil ................................... 353
Fig 6.22 Monument to Sir William Skipworth 1631 .................................................... 354
Fig 6.23 Detail of cherub heads in coffering of monument to Sir William Skipworth 355
Fig 6.24 Detail of putti on monument to Sir William Skipworth ................................. 356
Fig 6.25 Monument to Anne, Baroness of Kinlosse ..................................................... 358
Fig 6.26 Detail of cherub head ...................................................................................... 359
Fig 6.27 Detail of cherub head ...................................................................................... 359
Fig 6.28 Monument to Robert Kelway ......................................................................... 360
Fig 6.29 Detail of 3 putti on monument to Robert Kelway .......................................... 361
Fig 6.30 Monument to Roger Dale ............................................................................... 363
Fig 6.31 Detail of cherub heads .................................................................................... 364
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Fig 7.1 St. Apollonia ..................................................................................................... 387
Fig 7.2 St. Citha ............................................................................................................ 388
Fig 7.3 Powers .............................................................................................................. 389
Fig 7.4Virtues ............................................................................................................... 390
Fig 7.5 Dominations ..................................................................................................... 391
Fig 7.6 Seraphim ........................................................................................................... 392
Fig 7.7 Cherubim .......................................................................................................... 393
Fig 7.8 Principalities ..................................................................................................... 394
Fig 7.9 Thrones ............................................................................................................. 395
Fig 7.10 Archangels ...................................................................................................... 396
Fig 7.11 Angels ............................................................................................................. 397
Fig 7.12 St. Barbara ...................................................................................................... 398
Fig 7.13 Angels of 12th bay triforium level ................................................................. 399
Fig 7.14 Angels of the 5th bay at triforium level .......................................................... 400
Fig 7.15 Angels on the West Wall ................................................................................ 400

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