MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - GL13.jpg

Category Glass
Origin: artist/workshop Cologne workshop
Date 16C/1
Reference No
Size 65x87
Provenance Altenberg Cistercian Abbey, cloister
Present Location Shrewsbury, England, St Mary's Church, north window
Bibliography VP1:6:30 (PL185:244-5); LA 214; Paffrath 1984, 70-2

Eckert 1953, 71; Paris 1990, 288; Hunt 1951, 15
Illustration From Paffrath 1984, ill 14
Other illustrations Eckert 1953, pl 14

Paris 1990, ill 237
Country Germany
Description:
1505/32. This panel tells the story from c 1123 of Bernard and his sister Humbeline in three scenes that take place in three different locations. First, on the left Humbeline in costly and extravagant dress waits at the monastery gate. She is accompanied by a servant who holds her horse. Bernard refused to go out and see her. Her brother Andrew spotted her and declared her to be a 'bundle of dung'. She dissolved into tears and said, as shown on the scroll: ' Vos carnem meam despicitis, ne despiciat servus Dei animam meam. Veniat, praecipiat, et quidquid praeceperit, facere parata sum' (Even if my brother is to despise my flesh, no servant of God should despise my soul. Let him come, let him command, whatever he commands I am prepared to do). Hearing these words Bernard relented, and in the middle he is shown carrying his crozier and accompanied by a monk on his way to greet his sister. On the right Humbeline in a simple dress kneels before Bernard and with a cloth wipes away her tears.