MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - GL18.jpg

Category Glass
Origin: artist/workshop Cologne workshop
Date 16C/1
Reference No
Size 110x73
Provenance Altenberg Cistercian Abbey, cloister
Present Location Cologne, Schnuetgen Museum
Bibliography VP1:7:32 & 1:12:57 (PL185:246 & 258); LA 214; Paffrath 1984, 84-7

Eckert 1953, 75
Illustration From Paffrath 1984, ill 19
Other illustrations Eckert 1953, pl 17

Country Germany
Description:
1505/32. The scene of Bernard on his sick bed with his eyes closed and his crozier under his left arm surrounded by the community. This refers to the episode decribed in the 'Vita Prima' when he 'felt sick and as it were a river of phlegm flowed constantly from his mouth. Exhausted in body his strength began to fail. After some time his condition became so severe that his sons and his friends came together to perform the last rites'. Among these an abbot in a white cowl is depicted with his crozier. William of St Thierry says that he himself was present, but at the time he was still not a Cistercian, which he became when he joined Signy later (1135), but he was never a Cistercian abbot. It is likely that the artist responsible was unaware of the fine points of history and habit, and that the abbot in question is meant to represent William. A monk on the left in the background with his hood over his head holds his hands to his mouth and nose as if the smell is overpowering. The composition of this is almost identical to the panel from St Apern (see GL62). The upper half of the panel has a scene of Bernard being carried up to heaven by two angels, a scene which is also featured in the St Apern glass (see GL66).