Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Record Number: 7284 Author(s)/Creator(s): Smith , Susan L. Contributor(s): Title: Bride Stripped Bare: A Rare Type of the Disrobing of Christ Source URL: Gesta (Full Text via JSTOR) 34, 2 (1995): 126-146. Link Info target = '_blank'>Gesta (Full Text via JSTOR) 34, 2 (1995): 126-146. Link Info Description: Article Type: Journal Article Subject (See Also): Art History- Painting Bible Exegesis- Song of Songs Biblia Pauperum Body Gender Iconography Illumination of Manuscripts Jesus Christ in Art Jesus Christ- Passion Typology Award Note: Geographic Area: Germany Century: 15 Primary Evidence: Manuscript; Six midfifteenth century manuscripts of the Biblia Pauperum produced in eastern Bavaria and Austria. London, British Museum, Add. MSS. 15249. Munich, Staatsbibliothek, Clm. 28141; Clm. 18255; Cgm. 155. New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, Weigel-Felix Biblia Pauperum. Wolfenbuttel, Landesbibliothek, Cod. Aug. 68, 6. Illustrations: Thirteen photographs. Seven illustrations from the manuscripts of the Biblia Pauperum. Four illustrations from other manuscripts. One painting of the soldiers casting lots for Christ's garments. One ivory carving of the Passion. Table: Abstract: In a small but significant group of fifteenth-century manuscripts of the Biblia Pauperum, the Disrobing of Christ prior to his crucifixion is presented within an intricate typological nexus found nowhere else in medieval art or literature. Key to the typology is a rarely depicted episode from the Old Testament, the Stripping and Scourging of the Sponsa as related in Song of Songs 5:7. This unique cross-gendered prefiguration has built into it multiple layers of allegorical references which include the ascription of a female aspect to the body of Christ, based on the identification of his body with Ecclesia, which the Sponsa signifies. Morevoer, insofar as the Sponsa also signifies the individual soul, the typology in question makes a direct appeal to the viewer to love and to identify with Christ's stripped, suffering body in order to merit the reward of being joined to him as his bride. [Reproduced by permission of the International Center of Medieval Art.] Related Resources: Author's Affiliation: University of California, San Diego Conference Info: - , - Year of Publication: 1995. Language: English ISSN/ISBN: Not Available 0

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