Medieval Art, Architecture and Archaeology in the Dioceses of Aberdeen and Moray by Geddes, Jane;

Short description:

The British Archaeological Association Conference of 2014, based at Aberdeen University, surveyed the medieval heritage of Aberdeenshire and Moray. The opening historical papers establish the political, economic and administrative context of the region, looking at both the secular and religious worlds and including an examination of Elgin Cathedral and the bishops’ palaces. The discoveries at the excavations of the kirk of St Nicholas, which haverevealed the early origins of religious life in Aberdeen city, are summarised here prior to full publication.

Long description:

Exploring the medieval heritage of Aberdeenshire and Moray, the essays in this volume contain insights and recent work presented at the British Archaeological Association Conference of 2014, based at Aberdeen University. The opening, historical chapters establish the political, economic and administrative context of the region, looking at both the secular and religious worlds and include an examination of Elgin Cathedral and the bishops’ palaces.

The discoveries at the excavations of the kirk of St Nicholas, which have revealed the early origins of religious life in Aberdeen city, are summarized and subsequent papers consider the role of patronage. Patronage is explored in terms of architecture, the dramas of the Reformation and its aftermath highlighted through essentially humble parish churches, assailed by turbulent events and personalities. The collegiate church at Cullen, particularly its tomb sculpture, provides an unusually detailed view of the spiritual and dynastic needs of its patrons. The decoration of spectacular ceilings, both carved and painted, at St Machar’s Cathedral, Provost Skene’s House and Crathes Castle, are surveyed through the eyes of their patrons and the viewers below. Saints and religious devotion feature in the last four chapters, focusing on the carved wooden panels from Fetteresso, which display both piety and a rare glimpse of Scottish medieval carnal humour, the illuminated manuscripts from Arbuthnott, the Aberdeen Breviary and Historia Gentis Scotorum.

The medieval artistic culture of north-east Scotland is both battered by time and relatively little known. With discerning interpretation, this volume shows that much high-quality material still survives, while the lavish illustrations restore some glamour to this lost medieval world.

Table of Contents:

List of Abbrevations vi

Editor’s Preface vii

Locating Aberdeen and Elgin in the Later Middle Ages: Regional, National and

International Paradigms

david ditchburn 1

The Medieval Church in the Dioceses of Aberdeen and Moray

richard oram 16

Elgin Cathedral and Medieval Church Architecture in North-East Scotland

richard fawcett 33

Bishops’ Palaces in the Medieval Dioceses of Aberdeen and Moray

penelope dransart 58

Excavations within the East Kirk of St Nicholas, Aberdeen

alison s. cameron and judith a. stones 82

Post-Reformation Church Architecture in the Marischal Earldom, 1560–1625

miles kerr-peterson 99

Patronage at the Collegiate Church at Cullen

lizzie swarbrick 121

From Relegation to Elevation: The Viewer’s Relationship with Painted Ceilings from the

Medieval to Renaissance Eras in North-East Scotland

fern insh 139

Piping Pigs and Mermaid Groping: Six Carved Panels from Fetteresso

jane geddes 158

The Arbuthnott Manuscripts: The Patronage and Production of Illuminated Books in

Late Medieval Scotland

julian luxford 183

The Arbuthnott Book of Hours: Book Production and Religious Culture in Late

Medieval Scotland

marlene villalobos hennessy 212

North-Eastern Saints in the Aberdeen Breviary and the Historia Gentis Scotorum of

Hector Boece: Liturgy, History and Religious Practice in Late Medieval Scotland

tom turpie 239