The Bathory Chasuble, Esztergom Cathedral Treasury, Hungary, ca. 1500

 Click on picture for a larger image

Here is an interesting example* of three-dimensional embroidery used for some chasubles in Hungary and Poland in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Architectural motifs -canopies, for example- were usually rendered in a precious color like gold or a contrasting texture of material or thread but here the canopies are actually three-dimensional, constructed in covered wood or papier mâché, and projecting out over the figure below. The figures are padded to strengthen the sculptural appearance of the design.

I can hear it now: “Is that something Jesus would wear?”

Well, I suppose it is approaching some kind of limit to appropriateness.

________________________________

Picture and information source:

*Pauline Johnstone, High Fashion in the Church, (Leeds, Maney Publishing, 2002 ) page 76; the place of Church vestments in the history of art from the 9th to the 19th century.

Tags: Liturgical art, Vestments

This entry was posted on Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 7:59 AM . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.