Visual Aggression: Images of Martyrdom in Late Medieval Germany

215 Pages·2021·27.362 MB·English

by  Assaf Pinkus

V I S U A L A G G R E S S I O N
Images of Martyrdom in
Assaf Pinkus
Late Medieval Germany
visual aggression

V i s u a l A g g r e s s i o n
Images of Martyrdom in Late Medieval Germany
assaf pinkus
The Pennsylvania State University Press
University Park, Pennsylvania
This book was published with the support of the Israeli
Science Foundation and the The Kadar Family Award for
Outstanding Research.
The Kadar Family
Award for
Outstanding Research
Tel Aviv University
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Pinkus, Assaf, author.
Title: Visual aggression : images of martyrdom in late
medieval Germany / Assaf Pinkus.
Description: University Park, Pennsylvania : The
Pennsylvania State University Press, [2020] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Summary: “Explores images of torment and martyrdom
that appeared in the German-speaking world in
the late medieval period, tying them to premodern
conceptualizations of individuality and selfhood”—
Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020035730 | ISBN 9780271083797
(cloth)
Subjects: LCSH: Violence in art. | Martyrdom in art. |
Art, Medieval—Germany.
Classification: LCC N8257 .P57 2020 |
DDC 704.9/493036—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020035730
Copyright © 2021 Assaf Pinkus
All rights reserved
Printed in China
Book design/typesetting by Garet Markvoort, zijn digital
Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press,
University Park, PA 16802–1003
The Pennsylvania State University Press is a member of
the Association of University Presses.
It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press
to use acid-free paper. Publications on uncoated stock
satisfy the minimum requirements of American National
Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Material, aNSI z39.48–1992.
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: Weep Not for Me . . . But Weep on Yourselves 1
1 Visual Rhetoric 14
2 Between Theological and Juridical Positions 37
3 Bodily Imagination, Imagined Bodies 62
4 Eroticized and Sexualized Bodies 82
5 The Body Reincarnated 96
Epilogue: Effect and Response to Violence Imagery 113
Notes 121
Bibliography 145
Index 161

Illustrations
Color Plates (after page 84) 12. Stephan Lochner (?), Flaying of Saint Bartholomew,
ca. 1425
1. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north
13. Wellmich am Rhein, Church of St. Martin, Last
choir portal, Passion Portal, 1351–70s
Judgment with the Martyrdoms of the Twelve Apostles,
2. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north detail: Dragging by Horse of Saint Philip, last quarter of
choir portal, detail of the first register of the the fourteenth century
tympanum: Betrayal of Judas, 1351–70s
14. Wellmich am Rhein, Church of St. Martin, Last
3. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north Judgment with the Martyrdoms of the Twelve Apostles,
choir portal, outer archivolt, martyrdom scenes, detail: Mouth of Hell, last quarter of the fourteenth
1351–70s century
4. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north 15. Zell am Allgäu, Church of St. Bartholomew,
choir portal, inner archivolt, martyrdom scenes, Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, detail: Boiling of Saint
1351–70s John the Evangelist, ca. 1450
5. Schenna, Church of St. George, Saint George on the 16. Zell am Allgäu, Church of St. Bartholomew,
Wheel, ca. 1400 Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, detail: Flaying of
Bartholomew, ca. 1450
6. Schenna, Church of St. George, Saint George Dragged
and Quartered by Horses, ca. 1400 17. Zell am Allgäu, Church of St. Bartholomew,
Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, detail: Martyrdom of
7. Schenna, Church of St. George, Saint George Stabbed
Saint Simon and Saint Judas, ca. 1450
with Red-Hot Nails, ca. 1400
18. Stephan Lochner, Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles,
8. Vices, from Thomasin von Zerklaere, Der Welscher
detail: Saint James the Lesser, ca. 1435
Gast, 1340. Forschungsbibliothek Gotha, Memb. I 120,
fol. 100v 19. Zell am Allgäu, Church of St. Bartholomew,
Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, detail: Martyrdom of
9. Guido da Siena, reliquary shutter with the
Saint James the Lesser, ca. 1450
martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, detail,
ca. 1260 20. The Ten Thousand Martyrs altarpiece, 1325
10. Stephan Lochner, Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, 21. The Ten Thousand Martyrs altarpiece, detail, 1325
ca. 1435
22. Master Francke, Martyrdom of Saint Barbara
11. Stephan Lochner, Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, altarpiece, detail: Saint Barbara’s Mastectomy and
detail: Flaying of Saint Bartholomew, ca. 1435 Whipping, ca. 1410–16
23. Saint Catherine of Alexandria altarpiece, detail: 8. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster,
Whipping of Saint Catherine, ca. 1440 north choir portal, outer archivolt, left side, detail:
Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, 1351–70s 21
24. Saint Catherine of Alexandria altarpiece, detail:
Mastectomy of Saint Catherine, ca. 1440 9. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster,
north choir portal, outer archivolt, left side, detail:
25. Saint Catherine of Alexandria altarpiece, detail:
Martyrdom of Saint Judas Thaddeus, 1351–70s 22
Decapitation of Empress Faustina, ca. 1440
10. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster,
26. Crucifixion, ca. 1425–35
north choir portal, outer archivolt, left side, detail:
27. Crucifixion, detail: sculpted head of Mary, Martyrdom of Saint Judas Thaddeus, 1351–70s 22
ca. 1425–35
11. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster,
28. Crucifixion, detail: sculpted head of John the north choir portal, inner archivolt, left side, detail:
Evangelist, ca. 1425–35 Martyrdom of Saint Simon, 1351–70s 23
29. Crucifixion, detail: sculpted head of Christ, 12. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north
ca. 1425–35 choir portal, outer archivolt, right side, detail:
Martyrdom of Saint James the Lesser, 1351–70s 23
30. Schreinmadonna (opened), ca. 1300
13. Vienna Cathedral, Bischofstor, Saint Agnes with the
31. Ursula altarpiece, detail: Ursula head reliquary,
Lamb and Saint Juliana with the Devil, ca. 1365 29
ca. 1350
14. Violence Enthroned, from Thomasin von Zerklaere,
32. Ursula altarpiece, detail: Ursula head reliquary,
Welscher Gast, 1340. Forschungsbibliothek Gotha,
ca. 1350
Memb. I 120, fol. 38r 31
33. Henri Bellechose, The Martydom of Saint Denis, 1416
15. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, Life of
the Virgin, ca. 1324–1420 36
Figures 16. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
inner archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum,
1. Chartres Cathedral, Last Judgment Portal, south martyrdom scenes, ca. 1390: (a) Saint Thomas Becket
façade, Luxuria Dragged by a Demon, ca. 1220 4 (?), (b) Saint Agnes, (c) Saint Vitus, (d) Saint John the
Baptist, (e) unidentified martyr (Saint Erasmus or
2. Chartres Cathedral, Martyrs Column, south portal,
Saint Cassian?), (f) Saint Afra, (g) Saint Sebastian,
Saint Saturnin Dragged by a Bull, ca. 1230 15
(h) Saint Lawrence on the gridiron 40
3. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, north
17. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
choir portal, Passion tympanum, detail: Crown of
archivolt of the Nativity tympanum, martyrdom
Thorns and the Ascent to Calvary, 1351–70s 17
scenes, ca. 1370: (a) Saint Stephen, (b) Saint Leodegar,
4. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster, south (c) Saint Apollonia, (d) Saint Odile, (e) Saint Emmeram
choir portal, Last Judgment tympanum, 1351–70s 17 or Saint Jacobus, (f) Saint Anthony’s temptations
and demonic vision in the desert, (g) Saint Cecile,
5. Schwäbisch Gmünd, Holy Cross Minster,
(h) Saint Matthew 41
north choir portal, inner archivolt, left side, detail:
Martyrdom of Saint James the Greater or Saint Paul, 18. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
1351–70s 19 second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
tympanum, left side, martyrdom scenes, ca. 1370:
6. Reims Cathedral, north façade, jamb of central
(a) Saint Philip, (b) Saint Barbara, (c) Unidentified
Calixtus doorway, Saint Nicaise, ca. 1225–30 19
Martyr (Saint James the Greater?), (d) Saint
7. Paris, Basilica of Saint-Denis, Porte des Valois, Paul, (e) Saint Agatha, (f) Saint Bartholomew,
Martyrdom of Saint Denis, ca. 1170 20 (g) Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins,
(h) Saint Catherine 42
viii illustrations
19. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, 30. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
tympanum, right side, martyrdom scenes, ca. 1370: tympanum, left side, detail: Saint Agatha, ca. 1370 48
(a) Saint Judas Thaddeus and Saint Simon, (b) Saint
31. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
Peter, (c) Saint Christopher, (d) Martyrdom of the
second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
Ten Thousand, (e) Saint John the Evangelist, (f)
tympanum, left side, detail: Ursula and the Eleven
unidentified martyr (James the Lesser?), (g) Saint
Thousand Virgins, ca. 1370 48
Andrew, (h) Saint Simon or Saint Thomas 43
32. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
20. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum, left side,
tympanum, right side, detail, Martyrdom of the Ten
detail: Saint Agnes, ca. 1370 44
Thousand, ca. 1370 49
21. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
33. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum, right side,
middle archivolt of the Life of the Virgin tympanum,
detail: unidentified martyr (Saint Erasmus or Saint
right side, detail: Cain kills Abel, ca. 1351–70 49
Cassian?), ca. 1370 44
34. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
22. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum, left side,
archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum, right side,
detail: Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist 56
detail: Saint Afra, ca. 1370 44
35. Martyrdom of John the Baptist, in Elsässische
23. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
Legenda Aurea (Straßburg “Werkstatt von 1418”), 1419.
archivolt of the Crucifixion tympanum, right side,
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 144,
detail: Saint Sebastian, ca. 1370 44
Bl. fol. 89v 57
24. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner
36. Martyrdom of Saint Paul, in Elsässische Legenda
archivolt of the Nativity tympanum, left side, detail:
Aurea (Straßburg “Werkstatt von 1418”), 1419.
Saint Leodegar, ca. 1370 46
Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 144,
25. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner Bl. fol. 7r 57
archivolt of the Nativity tympanum, left side, detail:
37. Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew, in Elsässische
Saint Apollonia, ca. 1370 46
Legenda Aurea (Straßburg “Werkstatt von 1418”), 1419.
26. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 144,
inner archivolt of the Nativity tympanum, right side, Bl. fol. 82v 57
detail: Saint Emmeram or Saint Jacobus Intercisus,
38. Chopping Off the Hands of Forgers, in Les Fleurs des
ca. 1370 47
Chroniques, 1321. Besançon, Bibliothèque Municipale,
27. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, inner MS 677, fol. 88v 59
archivolt of the Nativity tympanum, right side, detail:
39. Execution of Nicolas le Flamand, in Les Fleurs des
Saint Cecile, ca. 1370 47
Chroniques, 1382. Besançon, Bibliothèque Municipale,
28. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, MS 677, fol. 122v 59
second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
40. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade,
tympanum, left side, detail: Saint Barbara,
second inner archivolt of Life of the Virgin
ca. 1370 48
tympanum, left side, detail: Saint Catherine,
29. Thann, Church of St. Theobald, west façade, ca. 1370 63
second inner archivolt of the Life of the Virgin
41. Guido da Siena, reliquary shutter with the Flaying
tympanum, left side, detail: unidentified martyr
of Saint Bartholomew, detail, ca. 1260 66
(James the Greater?), ca. 1370 48
illustrations ix