Angels on horseback

    "Angels playing instruments are common in English art, appearing in a range of contemporary works, including embroidered vestments, sculpture and illuminated manuscripts. Angels on horseback can be found on wall paintings and in earlier manuscripts, representing Christ's holy army as described in Revelation. However the Steeple Aston Cope is unique in its conflation of these two elements." English Medieval Embroidery: Opus Anglicanum.

    I made a special trip to London yesterday to see the Opus Anglicanum exhibit at the V&A, and I'm so glad I did; if medieval embroidery is your thing, then go forthwith! I doubt you'll find queues stretching round the block, but in its own quiet* way this is an astonishing show. Photography is not permitted, hence the souvenir postcard showing a detail from the Steeple Aston Cope, one of the many highlights; the piece dates from 1330-40, and what you see there is believed to be the earliest English depiction of a lute.

    

 

*Quiet until we reached the later sections when rock music from the museum's own shop next door to the exhibition galleries seeped in to break the medieval spell - pity the angel couldn't have amped up his lute...

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Comments

[Swissrose]

I loved this, especially that top one! I like how the pony is looking back - so much character :)
Having finally seen the Bayeux tapestry this year, I really wish I could see this but thankyou for including the videos since I can't!!
(I've wondered before now how mediaeval people might have felt about rock music and think it may actually have done quite well, what with the heavy hand the Church had in those days... ;o)

[Cornflower]

Now there's a thought!
I love the pony's expression, too, and it was details such as the characterisation of the figures in the embroideries which so impressed. The accompanying book, though pricey, is excellent and lets you see so much close up - things which you might not even have noticed looking at the exhibits themselves.

[Dark Puss]

I think your comment about rock is insightful. Indeed I feel that some of the themes, and the way the music is written and played, of doom metal would echo closely with the tough and often short lives many of those under the control of the Church. For example music from bands such as My Dying Bride (for an examplar listen to their track "Feel the misery").

[Dark Puss]

I am glad you managed to get to see it and that you were so impressed. Sorry we didn't meet. P xx

[Cornflower]

I didn't know there was such a thing as doom metal, so thanks for enlightening me, DP, but couldn't these bands look on the bright side a little more?!

[Cornflower]

It is quite something, and yes, it was a pity it was such a short visit.

[Dark Puss]

:-) Presumably you are also not a fan of (or perhaps even acquainted with) Death Metal bands then! here is a classic (fairly tuneful and "melodic"!) song from Nihilist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDxWNN8LEw8

Give me doom metal any day!

[Cornflower]

What fresh hell is this?

[Val]

It's too far away! drat BUT you have shared it very nicely and I so enjoyed the videos THANK YOU!

[Fran H-B]

So wanted to see this but with the chaos of Southern Trains, venturing 60 miles north to London just hasn't happened. Have enjoyed watching the links, thank you.

[Freda]

I especially liked the middle video - it goes rather well with Lucy Worsley's current programmes about the wives of Henry V111..helps the imagination along. Thank you for these.

[Mary]

I went this afternoon - and they've turned down the music! Feeling rather middle-aged as I have never heard of doom/death metal either! Wondering if I can drop it into conversation to impress the young or will I get it terribly wrong?

[Mary]

Thank heavens I don't live next door to them!