Reading the secret code of medieval images - the iconography of the apostles

Summary

This video script delves into the symbolic language of medieval Christian iconography, focusing on the portrayal of the 12 apostles in art. It explains how each apostle is identified through unique attributes related to their life stories, using the well-preserved painted reed screen at Beeston Regis as an example. The script also touches on the Apostles' Creed and its representation in art, linking the apostles to Old Testament prophets in a typological scheme. The speaker teases an upcoming course on iconography and invites viewers to explore medieval stained glass in more depth.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Christian iconography has a symbolic visual language that can be learned and read, allowing identification of saints without name labels.
• ⛪ In the late Middle Ages, low literacy levels meant that this symbolic language was inherently understood by worshippers.
• 📚 The speaker offers an introductory course on iconography on Teachable, with a deeper dive into the subject available in July.
• 🔑 Saint Peter is often depicted with oversized church keys, symbolizing the keys to the kingdom of heaven given by Jesus.
• ✝️ Saint Andrew is shown with an X-shaped cross, reflecting the tradition that he chose this form of crucifixion as he felt unworthy to be crucified like Christ.
• 🍷 Saint John is depicted with a chalice and a viper, symbolizing the oral tradition of him surviving a poisoned cup.
• 🗡️ Saint James the Great is often shown as a pilgrim with walking boots, a walking stick, and a scallop shell, referencing his shrine at Santiago de Compostela.
• 🪚 Saint Simon is depicted holding a saw, symbolizing his martyrdom by being sawn in two, a tradition believed in medieval England.
• 📖 The twelve apostles are sometimes shown with scrolls containing the clauses of the Apostles' Creed, reflecting their roles as messengers of the faith.
• 🪞 Medieval art often placed the apostles with attributes and sometimes texts to help the congregation identify and learn about them.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is the identification and portrayal of the 12 apostles in medieval art and Christian iconography.

How does the speaker plan to demystify the identification of saints in medieval art?

The speaker plans to demystify the identification of saints in medieval art by introducing the symbolic visual language of Christian iconography that can be learned and read.

What is the significance of the number 12 in the context of the apostles?

The number 12 is significant as it represents the 12 apostles, who were chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel and form a new nation of Israel, which is the Church.

Why was Saint Matthias included as an apostle in some Western medieval art?

Saint Matthias was included as an apostle in some Western medieval art because he was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot, maintaining the number of apostles at 12.

What is the purpose of the attributes held by the apostles in art?

The attributes held by the apostles in art are symbolic objects associated with their unique life stories, which help to identify them when their names are not present.

What is the significance of Saint Peter holding oversized church keys in art?

Saint Peter holding oversized church keys signifies his role as the keeper of the keys to the kingdom of heaven, as given to him by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel.

Why is Saint Andrew often depicted with an X-shaped cross?

Saint Andrew is often depicted with an X-shaped cross because he was crucified on such a cross, choosing it as he considered himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.

What is the significance of Saint John's attribute of a chalice with a viper or demon coming out of it?

The chalice with a viper or demon signifies an event where Saint John drank poison that turned into a serpent or viper, demonstrating the power of his faith and the truth of the gospel.

Why is Saint James the Great often depicted as a pilgrim in Northern European art?

Saint James the Great is depicted as a pilgrim in Northern European art to represent his journey to his own shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a popular pilgrimage destination.

What is the role of the Apostles' Creed in medieval iconography?

In medieval iconography, the Apostles' Creed is sometimes depicted with the apostles holding scrolls with the clauses of the creed, symbolizing their role in teaching the congregation the words of the creed.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to Christian Iconography

The speaker explains how they can identify saints in medieval church images without names being present. This skill is based on a symbolic visual language inherent to Christian iconography. The video aims to demystify this language and promote a deeper dive through an introductory course available on their Teachable site. Additionally, there is a current three-part course on Christian iconography focusing on the cross of Christ in art.

05:01

🧑‍🎨 Understanding the 12 Apostles

The video focuses on how the 12 apostles are depicted in medieval English art. It explains that 'apostle' means 'messenger' and that the apostles were tasked with spreading the gospel, thus transitioning from disciples to apostles. The symbolic importance of the number 12 is also discussed, relating to the 12 tribes of Israel and the formation of the church.

10:03

🔑 Saint Peter and His Keys

Saint Peter, the chief of the apostles, is typically depicted with gray hair, a beard, and holding church keys symbolizing the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus renamed Simon as Peter, meaning 'the rock,' and gave him these keys, signifying the power to forgive sins. The significance of the 'X-shaped' cross associated with Saint Andrew, Peter's brother, is also explained.

15:05

🍷 Saint John and the Poisoned Chalice

Saint John, the youngest apostle and often clean-shaven, is depicted with a chalice with a viper or demon emerging from it. This imagery relates to a tradition where John drinks a poisoned cup to prove the truth of the gospel and survives, demonstrating his divine protection. Saint James the Great, John's brother, is shown as a pilgrim, often with a scallop shell symbolizing the Way of Saint James pilgrimage.

20:06

🪚 Saint Simon and His Saw

Saint Simon, known as Simon the Zealot, is depicted with a saw, referencing his martyrdom by being sawn in half. The speaker debunks the myth that Simon came to England, emphasizing his death in Asia Minor. Saint Matthew, associated with missionary work in Ethiopia and martyrdom by sword, is often shown with this attribute or reading his gospel.

🏺 Saint James the Less and the Fuller’s Club

Saint James the Less, often confused with James the Just, is depicted with a fuller’s club due to the latter's martyrdom. Saint Jude, also known as Thaddeus, is often shown with a boat, reflecting his missionary journeys. Saint Bartholomew is depicted with a flaying knife, referencing the tradition of his martyrdom by being flayed alive.

🔪 Matthias, Philip, and Thomas

Saint Matthias, chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, is depicted with an axe, signifying his martyrdom by beheading. Saint Philip, associated with the feeding of the 5000, is often shown with bread or penny loaves. Saint Thomas, known for doubting the resurrection, is depicted with a spear, referencing his martyrdom in India.

📜 The Apostles’ Creed and Iconography

The Apostles' Creed, used in the Western Church during baptisms, influenced medieval iconography. The 12 apostles were often depicted with scrolls containing clauses of the Creed. The Creed, with its 12 sections, was rumored to be composed by the apostles, adding to its significance. This practice linked the apostles’ images to their teachings.

🌟 Apostles and Prophets in Art

In medieval art, apostles were often paired with Old Testament prophets to link the New and Old Testaments. This typological scheme depicted prophets as prefigurations of apostles. The prophets were shown with scrolls containing their prophecies related to the Apostles' Creed. This arrangement highlighted the continuity of Christian teachings from the Old to the New Testament.

🎥 Upcoming Courses and Support

The speaker invites viewers to subscribe and explore further courses on their Teachable site, including an upcoming detailed course on Christian iconography and a new series on medieval stained glass. They thank supporters and encourage donations through Buy Me a Coffee and PayPal to enhance their content production.

Keywords

💡Iconography

Iconography refers to the symbolic visual language used in the representation of sacred subjects, especially in religious art. In the context of the video, it is the method by which medieval art and architecture conveyed stories and messages through visual symbols and attributes. The script discusses how this language can be learned and read, particularly in identifying the 12 apostles in medieval art.

💡Apostles

The Apostles are the twelve main disciples chosen by Jesus Christ, who were given the role of spreading the gospel. The video explains that they became the foundation of the 'new Israel,' representing a spiritual nation that included all people, not just the Jewish faithful. Each apostle is associated with specific attributes that help identify them in art, as illustrated through the examples provided in the script.

💡Attributes

Attributes in Christian iconography are objects or symbols associated with a particular saint or biblical figure, which help to identify them in artworks. The script provides several examples, such as Peter holding oversized church keys, representing the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and Andrew holding an X-shaped cross, symbolizing his crucifixion.

💡Medieval Art

Medieval art refers to the art produced during the Middle Ages, characterized by its religious themes and symbolic imagery. The video script delves into the specific ways medieval art depicted the apostles, using a visual language that was understood by the largely illiterate population of the time to convey religious narratives and teachings.

💡Christian Creeds

Christian creeds are formal statements of faith, summarizing the core beliefs of Christianity. The Apostles' Creed is highlighted in the script as having an iconographical impact, with the apostles sometimes depicted holding scrolls with clauses of the creed, symbolizing their role in teaching the faith.

💡Martyrdom

Martyrdom refers to the act of suffering death or persecution for one's religious beliefs. In the script, the martyrdom of several apostles is discussed, with their attributes often symbolizing the manner of their death, such as James the Less holding a fuller's club, which is associated with his death by beating.

💡Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion. The script mentions Saint James the Great being depicted as a pilgrim to his own shrine at Santiago de Compostela, reflecting the historical practice of medieval pilgrims traveling to this site.

💡Typological Scheme

A typological scheme in Christian thought links Old Testament figures or events (types) with their New Testament counterparts (antitypes), showing the fulfillment of prophecy. The script describes how, in art, Old Testament prophets are sometimes paired with apostles to illustrate this relationship, as seen in the stained glass windows of Fairford.

💡Stained Glass

Stained glass is a decorative art of making designs with colored glass in frames to be placed in windows, often used in churches to depict religious scenes or figures. The script discusses an eight-part course on the study of medieval stained glass, including its creation, evolution, and significance in church architecture.

💡Teachable Site

The term 'teachable site' in the script refers to an online platform where the speaker offers courses, including an introductory course on iconography and a three-part course on the cross of Christ in art. It represents the speaker's educational offerings for those interested in a deeper dive into the subject matter discussed in the video.

💡Crucifixion

Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang, potentially for several days, until eventual death from exhaustion, asphyxiation, or other causes. The script mentions the crucifixion of Jesus and how it was portrayed in art, with references to the martyrdom of the apostles who were also crucified, such as Saint Andrew and Saint Peter.

Highlights

The speaker explains how to identify medieval saints in art without their names being present, through the use of Christian iconography.

Introduction to an introductory course on iconography to be available in July on the speaker's Teachable site.

Existence of a three-part course on the cross of Christ in art, focusing on the changing portrayal of crucifixion.

Explanation of the symbolic meaning behind the portrayal of the 12 apostles in medieval art.

The significance of the number 12 apostles, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel and forming a new nation, the Church.

The election of Matthias as the 12th apostle after Judas Iscariot's betrayal and suicide.

Occasional replacement of Matthias with Saint Paul in Western medieval art due to his significant role in spreading the gospel.

Use of attributes or symbolic objects to identify each apostle in art, such as Peter's church keys.

The tradition behind Saint Andrew's portrayal with an X-shaped cross and its connection to the flag of Scotland.

The story of Saint John drinking poison and surviving, depicted with a chalice and a fleeing serpent.

Saint James the Great's depiction as a pilgrim, associated with the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

The portrayal of the apostles holding objects related to their martyrdom or life stories for identification.

Debunking the myth of Simon the Zealot's mission and martyrdom in England, based on unreliable sources.

The Apostles' Creed's origin and its division into 12 clauses, each potentially represented by an apostle in art.

The typological scheme in art, linking the apostles with Old Testament prophets as prefigurements.

The use of stained glass windows to visually teach the congregation the Apostles' Creed and typological connections.

Upcoming eight-part course on the study of medieval stained glass, covering its creation, evolution, and significance.

Invitation for viewers to support the channel for better quality content and equipment through donations.

Transcripts

[Music]

someone last week asked me after

watching some of my change tour videos

how i'm able to go into a church take

one look at a medieval image of a saint

and know who that saint is

even when the saints name is not present

and whether i begin to talk through how

i do that with you all

well like many aspects of medieval art

and architecture christian iconography

has a symbolic visual language that can

be learnt and then then can be read

the late middle ages when literacy

levels were low it was a language that

was inherently understood by those who

used and worshipped in our churches

so in this video i'm going to introduce

to you some of that language and try to

demystify it

i'm going to be offering an introductory

course on iconography on my teachable

site which will be a bit of a deeper

dive into just this very subject i hope

this video will whet your appetite for

the course which should be available in

july

incidentally if you go to my teachable

page now i currently have a three-part

course on christian iconography already

available it is on the cross of christ

in art from the early years of

christianity right through to the

reformation and it focuses on how the

changing social status of the church and

the development of belief affected how

the crucifixion was portrayed in art

those who have taken the course so far

have really enjoyed it and if you're

interested there's a link in the

description below which will take you to

it

so until the matter at hand and in

today's video i'm going to focus on one

aspect of medieval iconography how the

12 apostles are portrayed in art in

medieval england

firstly i suppose we should begin by

clearing up who precisely the apostles

are

eleven of them are the same people that

jesus chose to be among his twelve

disciples his closest followers

the word apostle means a person who is

sent out a messenger

and when jesus gave his twelve disciples

the role of spreading the gospel

they then stopped being his disciples

only

and became his apostles

jesus chose 12 close companions as his

disciples and then as apostles for

symbolic reasons

there are 12 tribes of israel and the

job of the 12 apostles was to form a new

nation of israel that was drawn not only

from the jewish people but from everyone

on earth the gentiles and that new

nation was to be called the church

the apostles were to be the head of the

church and jesus said to them in

matthew's gospel that at the end of all

things when he comes again

they would also sit on twelve thrones to

judge the twelve tribes of israel

of course after the crucifixion of

christ the number of the disciples was

reduced to eleven due to the suicide of

judas iscariot to the betrayer

12 was still required

and we read in the acts of the apostles

in the new testament that the remaining

11 elected a replacement for judas by

lot

sent to matthias

and he became the 12th apostle

sometimes in western medieval art poor

old saint matthias is missed out

and is replaced instead with saint paul

paul wasn't one of the original 12

disciples he had been saul a persecutor

of the church but he was converted by

jesus on the road to damascus and given

a particular mission to spread the

gospel to the gentiles those outside the

jewish faith so he became an apostle too

so how do you tell which apostle is

which in art when they are not labeled

well i'm going to take as an example the

figure of the apostles on the beautiful

early 16th century painted reed screen

at beeston regis on the north coast of

norfolk

the figures are in extremely good

condition and have not been damaged by

iconoclasts

the figures of the apostles are arranged

in pairs

six on one side of the screen and six on

the other

and you will notice that each of the

figures is holding an object in their

hands

these are their attributes objects

associated with their own unique life

story

that helped medieval people identify

them on how you and i can identify them

today

now a beast and the figures are arranged

with the four apostles that were

considered the most important

surrounding the door

so we'll look at those first

the first figure some peter the chief of

the apostles is shown on the right hand

side of the door the most important spot

he is usually shown as the eldest of the

apostles with gray hair and a grey beard

he holds in his hand a set of oversized

church keys

these are of course the keys to the

kingdom of heaven

in matthew's gospel jesus renames simon

as he was previously called peter which

means the rock and tells him that he'll

be the lock on which the church is built

and he gives him the keys to the kingdom

of heaven that he would have the power

to grant forgiveness to penitence or to

withhold it from those who are not

sin andrew the mother of peter is in the

next most important spot to the left of

the door

he holds a soul tire or an x-shaped

cross

sanandri was crucified

in patches in the year ad60 and a

tradition arose in the later middle ages

that he had chosen to be crucified on an

x-shaped cross as he considered himself

unworthy to be crucified precisely like

christ was

a similar story is attached to the

martyrdom of saint peter who is said to

have been crucified

uh with his head down

the reason that the flag of scotland is

a saltier is due to that tradition of

andrews crucifixion on such a cross and

when andrew became the patron saint of

scotland that symbol was adopted

then we have two more saints who are

brothers

next to saint peter is saint john the

beloved disciple

he is usually shown as the youngest of

the twelve and is often clean shaven

while the rest have a good bid growth

he was the only one of the twelve who

didn't suffer martyrdom having been

given the role by christ of looking

after his mother mary

dying at a ripe old age he spends time

in ephesus

and was for many years exiled on the

island of patmos

his attribute is a chalice with a viper

or a demon coming out of it

and this is a reference to an event that

began as an oral tradition

and was then recorded in the second

century in a text called the acts of

john

a text that was well known in medieval

england

the tradition relates this that while in

ephesus john finds himself in a dialogue

with a pagan priest called aristodemus

who is hostile to christianity

and john asks him in conversation what

would convince him of the truth of the

gospel

and aristodemus says that he would

believe in christ

if john were to drink a cup of poison

and still live

handed the poison john prays

he makes the sign of the cross over it

with his hand

he asks god to make the poison flee as a

serpent flees before him

and then crossing himself

he then drinks the poison

and john does survive

but sadly that's doesn't convince saris

to demis

the crowd witnessing this are convinced

when they order aristodemus to keep his

dice to himself threatening to burn his

house down if he doesn't

so what we see as the attribute of saint

john

is uh john exercising the poisoned cup

with the sign of the cross with his hand

and the poison

as a serpent or viper

fleeing

saint james the great is nexus and

andrew he is the brother of saint john

and he and his brother are referred to

in the gospels by jesus as the sons of

thunder as either they were a bit

impetuous or their father zebedee had a

bit of a reputation

james in northern european art is really

rather curiously depicted as a pilgrim

to his own shrine at santiago de

compostela in spain

now lots and lots of pilgrims from

medieval england and northern europe

took what they called the way of saint

james

what is nowadays called the camino

and visited james's shrine in spain and

lots of churches along the route in

england are dedicated to him

saint james is shown here wearing

pilgrims garb now the rest of the

apostles are all shown barefoot

but saint james is wearing a stout pair

of walking boots he's holding his

walking stick

and attached to it is what in middle

english is referred to as a script a

little bag that contains all the things

you might need on loot to deal with the

blisters on your feet

on his head is a hat to shade his eyes

and attached to that is a scallop shell

which was the badge that pilgrims to his

shrine pinned to their clothing to prove

that they'd been they picked them up on

the beach

now for the rest of the apostles they're

not placed in any particular order at

beaston and we're going to work from the

north

across the screen to the south left to

right

as we look at them

the far left panel depicts since simon

who is known in the gospels as simon the

canaanite or simon the zealot

many countries claim him as a missionary

including georgia

the mainstream christian tradition is

that since simon was martyred in asia

minor and that he died by being sawn in

two down his middle

and in medieval england he is usually

shown iconographically holding the saw

of his martyrdom

just to cause confusion elsewhere such

as ran with he is sometimes shown

holding a gigantic fish

which is odd as he is not known to have

been a fisherman perhaps this is a

confusion with simon peter

okay so here's just a quick aside just

to clear one of my particular bug bears

at the moment um i have heard it said

that since simon the zealot came to

england and may even have been martyred

and died here

it's not part of the mainstream

christian tradition that he ever set

font in england

the idea that he did comes from a quite

extraordinary book published in 1961

called the drama of the lost disciples

this book was written by not a

professional historian not by a biblical

scholar but a professional wrestler they

call a canadian professional wrestler

called joette

and he claims he's really quite

extraordinary um not only that simon the

zealot came to england but that he came

to lincolnshire where i live and that he

was martyred

at cayster which is about 20 miles from

where i'm currently sat

it is absolute

boulderdash

he bases this assertion on two little

scraps of pseudopigrapher

both of which have been discounted as as

reliable documentary sources and his own

imagination so if you hear it said that

since simon the zella came to england

and came to lincolnshire uh please

discount that the tradition is that he

died in asia minor and that he was sewn

in half and that's certainly what people

in medieval england believe which is why

since simon is usually portrayed holding

a saw

so that's a little aside dealt with that

little rabbit hole um so next to simon

on the screen is matthew um who was

perhaps the author of the gospel of that

name

by tradition he undertook missionary

work in ethiopia and he was martyred

with the sword

the sword is usually his attribute as it

is here at eastern regions

elsewhere he is shown as the author of

his gospel

for example on the rude screen at

corston in norfolk he is shown reading

his gospel wearing a rather fetching

pair of spectacles though some horrible

iconoclastic protestant has poked his

eyes out

the next apostle is one that medieval

people call sin james the less to simply

differentiate him from james the great

the brother of john

in scripture he is known as james the

son of alpheus and brother of joseph

and by early tradition he was the son of

mary cleophas one of the women who stood

at the foot of the cross who was a

kinswoman and in some traditions the

sister of the virgin mary

said james gets confused with another

james who was not one of the twelfths

and james the just the brother or

kinsman of christ who in the acts of the

apostles was the first bishop of

jerusalem

that confusion gets transmitted into

western medieval iconography

sin james the just according to some

clement of alexandria writing in the

second century was thrown from the top

of the temple in jerusalem

and then was beaten to death with a club

the sort of club that fullers

or felt makers used to beat wool into

felt

due to the confusion of these two people

saint james the less the apostle

ends up being shown in western art

holding a fuller's club

as he is here at beast and regis

next along we have saint jude who is

also known in the gospels as thaddeus or

judas thaddeus said that he is not

confused with judas iscariot in most

traditions he is said to have been

martyred alongside since simon in asia

minor

in late medieval english iconography he

is invariably shown holding a boat

we're not quite sure why

this may refer to his many journeys as

an apostle

in many cases since simon anson jude are

paired together because they work

together

but not strangely here in beeston

so bartholomew who is next is sometimes

identified with nathaniel the friend of

saint philip who in saint john's gospel

is initially skeptical that jesus is the

christ but comes to think of him as such

by tradition bartholomew had an

apostolic ministry in india and perhaps

in armenia too

there are a number of different

traditions about his martyrdom one that

he was kidnapped beaten and drowned in

the sea

another but like saint peter he was

crucified upside down

the one that caught the popular

imagination in the grisly middle ages

is that he was flayed alive that his

skin was cut off and then he was

beheaded somewhere in asia minor

so he is usually shown in english

medieval art

as here

holding a butcher's flaying knife the

type of knife a butcher would use to

skin an animal

and sometimes that is not common in this

country he can be shown holding his own

skin

next to him is matthias the apostle

chosen by lot to replace judas iscariot

by tradition he went to cappadocia an

asia minor to preach

and some traditions state that he was

crucified there

in most traditions he is said to have

met his end in jerusalem being stoned to

death and then beheaded

which is why he is shown holding an axe

or a halberd

then we have some philip

in the gospel of john before the feeding

of the 5000 jesus asks philip where

bread could be found to feed so many

people and philip answers by saying that

two hundred denarii would be

insufficient to feed them

because of this episode in the gospels

sin philip is often shown either with a

basket full of bread

or holding a pile of penny loaves as he

is here at beast and regis

and lastly at beast and regions we have

some thomas called the twin

and forever known as doubting thomas so

after seeing the lord resurrected he was

full of faith

it is said that he undertook missionary

work in india being martyred there with

the spear

and he carries the attribute of his

martyrdom

so if you're in the know you can read

these images like a book they each

express the essence of the story of the

individual apostle depicted the expanded

traditions associated with each apostle

were circulating at the time that this

screen was painted in the early 16th

century they were known orally they were

known through mystery plays and for

those who could read through texts such

as yakabist of our giants golden legend

which was translated into english and

was flying off the printing press of

william caxton and his printmaster

winking the word at the end of the 15th

and the beginning of the 16th century

in the western church as an alternative

to the nicene creed the symbol of faith

a creed called the apostles creed

was frequently used in the middle ages

and it had an iconographical impact

this creed the apostles creed has been

to have come into use in the middle of

the fourth century in gaul well over a

hundred years after the nicene creed had

come into use and it began life as a

series of twelve interrogatory questions

and responses used at baptisms

and it continues to be the creed used by

the western church at baptisms until

this day

it is also used in the traditional roman

rite of the catholic church during

matins in the morning and compline in

the evening and as an anglican priest i

used it every day it is one of the

things the anglican reformers of the

16th century included in the book of

common prayer

for matins and even song

it never really had an impact on the

eastern church who continued to use the

nicene creed or to give it its proper

title the niceno constantinopolitan

creed at all services including holy

baptism

by the end of the fourth century the

rumor was already circulating in the

west of this creed with its neat

division of 12 clauses it was earlier

than the nicene creed and was composed

by the apostles

that is of course not true but it was a

good way of justifying the use of a text

that was novel but was already in use in

part of the church

i know you may be wondering how this

relates to iconography well in the

medieval west it was not uncommon for a

set of images of the twelve apostles to

be holding not only their attributes but

scrolls with the clauses of the apostles

creed assigned to them

now i'm going to illustrate this by

showing you a set of stained glass

windows of this subject matter from the

early 16th century they're from fairford

in gloucestershire and are some of the

most beautiful

pieces of late medieval art

now in this window and elsewhere the

apostles are given a sort of pecking

order so the first four clauses of the

creed are assigned to the big four

apostles saint peters and andrews and

james the great anson john

then the apostles follow in this order

saint thomas

james the less

philip

bartholomew matthew

simon jude

and lastly as he was of course late to

the party

matthias

the text of the latin creed is placed

over the apostles head and in the case

of fairford it's actually written on

scrolls which are the medieval

equivalent of speech bubbles so we're

seeing the apostles teaching the

congregation

the words of the creed themselves

sometimes things are developed much

further and 12 of the old testament

prophets are included in a schema

to link the old testament of the new

at fairford 12 prophets are placed in

windows directly opposite the 12

apostles in the church building

often you will hear it said that the

prophets were types of the apostles and

that linking together images the

apostles with prophets

is termed a typological scheme

what does this mean

well the word type from the latin tipos

means a stamp

or impression a mold or a model

the prophets

in medieval theological thought

were the stamp or impression the mould

or model of the apostles they were the

prefigurements of the apostles just as

the coming of christ was the fulfillment

of the prophecies of the old testament

so the apostles christ's close

companions and also his messengers were

the recreation of the prophets of old

who were also messengers and apostles if

you like

there was of course no common text that

united the prophets so generally

speaking the prophets were portrayed

holding

scrolls or with scrolls or texts but

with quotations from their own

prophecies that related to the clauses

of the creed and that is certainly the

case at furford

the order the prophets were placed in

isn't hierarchical in any sense but was

worked out through

that relationship of the old testament

texts to the clauses of the creed

i hope that has wetted your appetite for

this subject a little don't forget to

subscribe to the channel if you like

what you see here as i said at the

beginning i do have a longer course

coming in july all about christian

iconography that will be over on

teachable where i already have some

other content for you to enjoy if you

want to take things further

the end of this week i will also be

uploading an eight-part course

introducing the study of medieval

stained glass looking at how stained

glass is made how style and design

evolves and the purpose and significance

of stained glass windows and churches

lastly thanks to all of you for your

support and for your input please do

keep the comments coming i really enjoy

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thanks very much for watching and bye

for now

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you