Cathy's Art Diary

Intriguing online lecture from the London Art History Society looking at a wonderful Anglo-Saxon crucifix on the outside of Romsey Abbey. Richard Plant, author on this period, shared thoughts on the Romsey Rood starting by describing it and comparing it to other crucifixes of the period. I love this period of art but don’t know a huge amount about it so it was fascinating to be introduced to some lovely objects. He then thought about rituals which may have been linked to this work such as the idea of fire for lighting candles being kept by a church door. He also mused on why it was on the nuns side of the church and whether they had some ritual linked to it. Finally he looked at why this Anglo-Saxon work might have been incorporated into a later Norman church. Did it have some sentimental meaning to the local people? Two Anglo-Saxon saints and a king were buried there so was the object linked to one of them? Had the nunnery become a home for Anglo-Saxon ladies post Conquest? Lot...

Excellent online lecture from the British Museum looking at the Bayeux Tapestry. Michael Lewis and Dave Musgrove, authors of “The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry” did a wonderful double act, talking us through who might have made it, the story it tells and its legacy. They had great illustrations which showed off the details and picked some of the more unusual episodes. I did the Norman Conquest for A Level and at university and it is one of my favourite episodes in history but I learnt a lot and was particularly interested in the idea that a number of the images might have their origins in books at Canterbury Cathedral at the time. I so want to rewrite my “Were the Normans Innovators?” essay!