Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index



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  • Title: Stucco reliefs of holy women
  • Creator:
  • Description: The Oratory of Santa Maria in Valle, also known as Tempietto Longobardo, is an example of original Longobard architecture. It is composed of a single chamber, square plan covered by a cross vault. Five windows framed by small columns and arches decorated with sculpture are located in the upper section of each wall. On either side of these windows are stucco sculptures of six female figures carved in high relief. These figures are a little taller than life-sized. The identities of these figures are unknown, however they are commonly believed to be female saints because the head of each woman is framed by a nimbus, or a square shaped halo. The figure depicted in this photograph wears a tunic and cloak raised to cover her head in a display of modesty. Her body is turned at a slight angle towards the window that she stands beside. Her hands which are raised in a gesture of devotion are also directed towards this window. She may have been intended to represent a pious widow. The two female figures that accompany her are richly dressed and carry crowns and small crosses. They may represent virgin martyrs like Catherine of Alexandria or holy princesses. Scholars cite the procession of virgin martyrs at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo as a possible influence.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Public Domain
  • Subject (See Also): Architecture- Religious Hagiography Martyrs
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 8
  • Date: 762-766
  • Related Work: Santa Maria in Valle, six holy women and architectural decorations: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Cividale_Tempietto_Longobardo_-_Westwand.jpg
  • Current Location: Cividale del Friuli, Tempietto Longobardo, Santa Maria in Valle, Interior: entrance wall
  • Original Location: Cividale del Friuli, Tempietto Longobardo, Santa Maria in Valle, Interior: entrance wall
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital Images; Sculptures
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Stucco
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 199 cm//
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources:

    Kiilerich, Bente. "Colour and Context: Reconstructing the Polychromy of the Stucco Saints in the Tempietto Longobardo at Cividale." Arte Medievale n.s. 7, 2 (2008): 9-24. Available from Researchgate

    Kiilerich, Bente. "Texture, Colour and Surface Appearance of the Cividale Stuccoes." CLARA Classical Art and Archaeology Special issue 1 (2020): 1-22. Availale open access from the Bergen Open Research Archive.

    L'Orange, Hans Peter and Torp Hjalmar. Il Tempietto Longobardo Di Cividale. G. Bretschneider, 1977. Illustrazioni comparative pages 118-125.