- Postboks 7800
5020 Bergen
NORWAY - +47 55 58 31 27
Justin E A Kroesen
University of Bergen, University Museum of Bergen, Department Member
This book (in Spanish), based on lectures held at the Prado Museum in 2021, includes four essays on medieval art. The main focus is on the altar as a medieval artistic showcase. The argument moves back and forth from the museum to the... more
This book (in Spanish), based on lectures held at the Prado Museum in 2021, includes four essays on medieval art. The main focus is on the altar as a medieval artistic showcase. The argument moves back and forth from the museum to the original spatial setting of the altarpieces: the liturgy and the medieval church interior. After a reflection of the continued relevance of religious heritage (Ch. 1), the geographical scope narrows down from Europe (Ch. 2) to Spain (Ch. 3 and 4).
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The collection of medieval church art at the University Museum of Bergen is among the finest of its kind in Europe. Most of the objects have come from churches in western Norway, but their materials, techniques, styles and iconography... more
The collection of medieval church art at the University Museum of Bergen is among the finest of its kind in Europe. Most of the objects have come from churches in western Norway, but their materials, techniques, styles and iconography reflect the many cultural connections that linked this remote region not only with the lands surrounding the North Sea, but extended even to the Mediterranean and beyond. Most outstanding are high medieval altar decorations of painted wood: twenty altar frontals, various polychromed sculptures and a vaulted altar canopy. The collection also includes Romanesque baptismal fonts, late Gothic winged altarpieces, and liturgical vessels and vestments. Introductory chapters on the museum’s 200-year history and on western Norway’s medieval church landscape are followed by a presentation of one hundred selected art works.
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Die Sammlung mittelalterlicher Kirchenkunst im Universitätsmuseum zu Bergen gehört zu den besten ihrer Art in Europa. Die meisten Objekte stammen aus Kirchen in Westnorwegen, aber ihre Materialien, Techniken, ihr Stil und ihre... more
Die Sammlung mittelalterlicher Kirchenkunst im Universitätsmuseum zu Bergen gehört zu den besten ihrer Art in Europa. Die meisten Objekte stammen aus Kirchen in Westnorwegen, aber ihre Materialien, Techniken, ihr Stil und ihre Ikonographie spiegeln die vielen kulturellen Verbindungen wider, die diese abgelegene Region mit anderen Gebieten rund um die Nordsee und sogar mit dem Mittelmeer und darüber hinaus verbanden. Besonders hervorzuheben sind die hochmittelalterlichen Altardekorationen aus bemaltem Holz: zwanzig Altarfrontalien, verschiedene polychromierte Skulpturen und ein gewölbter Altarbaldachin. Zur Sammlung gehören auch romanische Taufbecken, spätgotische Flügelaltäre, Metallgefäße und liturgische Gewänder. Auf einleitende Kapitel zur Museumsgeschichte und zur mittelalterlichen Kirchenlandschaft Westnorwegens folgt eine Präsentation von hundert ausgewählten Kunstwerken.
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Samlingen av middelalderens kirkekunst ved Universitetsmuseet i Bergen er blant de fineste i sitt slag i Europa. De fleste objektene kom fra kirker på Vestlandet, men materiale, teknikker, stil og ikonografi gjenspeiler de mange... more
Samlingen av middelalderens kirkekunst ved Universitetsmuseet i Bergen er blant de fineste i sitt slag i Europa. De fleste objektene kom fra kirker på Vestlandet, men materiale, teknikker, stil og ikonografi gjenspeiler de mange kulturelle forbindelsene som knyttet regionen til andre områder rundt Nordsjøen og til og med til Middelhavet og utover. Mest fremtredende er høymiddelalderske alterdekorasjoner av malt tre: tjue alterfrontaler, forskjellige polykromerte Madonnaer og en hvelvet alterbaldakin. Samlingen inneholder også romanske døpefonter, sengotiske vingede altertavler, liturgiske kar og klær. Innledende kapitler om museets 200-årige historie og om Vest-Norges middelalderske kirkelandskap blir fulgt av en presentasjon av hundre utvalgte kunstverk.
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Tabernacle shrines-enclosures containing a single saint's effigy equipped with two, four or more wings-are a neglected form of medieval altar decoration. Although they were common across the Latin West, surviving examples are spread very... more
Tabernacle shrines-enclosures containing a single saint's effigy equipped with two, four or more wings-are a neglected form of medieval altar decoration. Although they were common across the Latin West, surviving examples are spread very unevenly over Europe. Most of the c. 500 preserved tabernacle shrines are found in Central Italy, Northern Spain, across Germany, and particularly in Scandinavia. More than one-third of the total European stock is preserved in Sweden, making it the only country where the entire development of such 'Helgonskåp' ('saints' cupboards') can still be gleaned. Departing from the Swedish wealth, this study explores the tabernacle shrine as a European phenomenon in medieval art. The first chapters distinguish and analyse seven different types of tabernacle shrine, while the last sections focus on the object type as an artistic category, as a physical object in medieval church space, and on its remarkable survival in Lutheran Sweden. Justin Kroesen is professor of the Material Culture of Christianity at the University of Bergen (Norway) and research curator of the church art collection of its University Museum. Peter Tångeberg, conservator and art historian, specialises in medieval art, particularly medieval sculpture in Sweden and elsewhere around the Baltic.
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Bilingual brochure (in English and Norwegian) that gives an outline of the most important strengths of the church art collection preserved at the University Museum of Bergen and presents some of its most outstanding objects.
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Schrijver en dichter Marjoleine de Vos en religieus erfgoed specialist Justin Kroesen schreven over het huidige bezit van de verschillende kerken en plekken. En dat deden zij beiden vanuit een andere invalshoek. De Vos vanuit haar eigen... more
Schrijver en dichter Marjoleine de Vos en religieus erfgoed specialist Justin Kroesen schreven over het huidige bezit van de verschillende kerken en plekken. En dat deden zij beiden vanuit een andere invalshoek. De Vos vanuit haar eigen beleving en Kroesen vanuit de kunsthistorische wetenschap. Vervolgens maakten de fotografen Bo Scheeringa en Jim Ernst bij deze teksten een fotografisch beeld. Voorafgaand aan deze lofzangen in woord en beeld schetst filosoof Eelco van Es op verrassende wijze de ontwikkeling van de Stichting sinds het begin van haar bestaan, vijftig jaar geleden op 13 mei 1969. Deze uitgave verscheen bij Philip Elchers in opdracht van Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken.
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The Dutch province of Friesland boasts an abundance of churches of great historical importance. This book, published on the occasion of Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018 Cultural Capital of Europe, focuses on eleven outstanding examples within... more
The Dutch province of Friesland boasts an abundance of churches of great historical importance. This book, published on the occasion of Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018 Cultural Capital of Europe, focuses on eleven outstanding examples within short reach of the Frisian capital. These buildings all date from the Middle Ages – most have Romanesque origins – and they all retain splendid seventeenth- and eighteenth-century interiors. You are warmly invited to read and look, to visit and enjoy this unique religious heritage.
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Die mittelalterlichen Kirchen der schwedischen Insel Gotland beherbergen eine einzigartige Fülle mittelalterlicher Ausstattung. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Sakramentsnische, die uns in einer erstaunlichen Vielfalt begegnet. Es... more
Die mittelalterlichen Kirchen der schwedischen Insel Gotland beherbergen eine einzigartige Fülle mittelalterlicher Ausstattung. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Sakramentsnische, die uns in einer erstaunlichen Vielfalt begegnet. Es handelt sich um die größte zusammenhängende Gruppe mittelalterlicher Sakramentsnischen in ganz Europa. Diese Studie enthält einen Katalog der fast sechzig gotländischen Beispiele sowie eine Analyse der Objekte in ihrem europäischen Kontext. Dabei bildet neben dem kunsthistorischen Aspekt immer auch die Perspektive der Nutzung sowie ihre Erhaltung im Luthertum den roten Faden. Aufgrund der vielen Verbindungen des mittelalterlichen Gotlands gewähren uns die Wandschränke auf dieser Ostseeinsel einen einzigartigen Einblick in die liturgische Ausstattung mittelalterlicher Kirchen in anderen Teilen Europas, die ansonsten weitgehend verloren ist.
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In dit boek ontrafelt kerkenkenner dr. Regnerus Steensma de historische betekenis van protestantse kerken in Nederland. Anders dan vaak wordt gedacht, zijn deze niet bepaald sober ingericht. In het schip vinden we in veel gevallen een... more
In dit boek ontrafelt kerkenkenner dr. Regnerus Steensma de historische betekenis van protestantse kerken in Nederland. Anders dan vaak wordt gedacht, zijn deze niet bepaald sober ingericht. In het schip vinden we in veel gevallen een preekstoel met uitbundig snijwerk, omgeven door een doophek en omringd door voorname banken en een monumentaal bankenplan voor de gewone kerkgangers. Het schip is vaak door een hek of een schotwerk van het koor afgescheiden. Het koor draagt in veel protestantse kerken door de aanwezigheid van graftombes en rouwborden het karakter van een mausoleum. Dit boek, dat met meer dan driehonderd eigen opnames is geïllustreerd, neemt u in woord en beeld mee op een wandeling door het fascinerende interieur van onze oude protestantse kerken. Bij de verschillende onderdelen wordt niet alleen aandacht besteed aan hun historische betekenis, maar ook aan het aspect van monumentenzorg en modern kerkbeheer.
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Biografische en bibliografische schets van kerkenkenner Regnerus Steensma (1937-2012)
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The thousands of medieval village churches that lie scattered across Europe provide us with unique insights into society and religion during the Middle Ages. Although many original furnishings fell victim to iconoclasm, war, neglect or... more
The thousands of medieval village churches that lie scattered across Europe provide us with unique insights into society and religion during the Middle Ages. Although many original furnishings fell victim to iconoclasm, war, neglect or refurbishment, some church interiors have remained surprisingly intact. Since 1998, Justin Kroesen and Regnerus Steensma traced, visited, photographed and recorded descriptions of hundreds of village churches throughout Western Europe. In this book the reader is invited to take an imaginary walk through a random medieval country church and admire fifteen pieces of furniture that are discussed in richly illustrated chapters. A description of the form and function of the object in question is followed by a survey of surviving characteristic examples in different countries. The volume concludes with an outline of the vicissitudes of church furnishings since the Middle Ages.
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Een overzicht van de belangrijkste religieuze objecten uit de Middeleeuwen, met prachtige foto’s van schitterende kunstvoorwerpen. Een verdieping van de middeleeuwse (kerk-)geschiedenis van Groningen en Oostfriesland. Het boek volgt de... more
Een overzicht van de belangrijkste religieuze objecten uit de Middeleeuwen, met prachtige foto’s van schitterende kunstvoorwerpen. Een verdieping van de middeleeuwse (kerk-)geschiedenis van Groningen en Oostfriesland. Het boek volgt de opbouw van het middeleeuwse misritueel (ook ‘eucharistie’ genoemd) aan de hand van de objecten die daarin een rol speelden. Centraal staat het altaar, waarop kelken, kandelaars en andere voorwerpen stonden die bij de viering werden gebruikt. Rondom het altaar vinden we onder meer retabels, reliekschrijnen en priestergewaden. In het koor waren voorts de monstrans, het sacramentshuis en de piscina te vinden. Tot slot waren kerken ook ingericht met andere onderdelen, zoals een preekstoel, zitbanken, een wijwaterbekken en natuurlijk heiligenbeelden. De rijk geïllustreerde catalogus wordt ingeleid door dr. Justin Kroesen, universitair docent kunstgeschiedenis van he christendom aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen en directeur van het instituur voor Christelijk Cultureel Erfgoed. Kroesen deed eerder samen met dr. Regnerus Steensma onderzoek naar middeleeuwse kerkinterieurs in Oostfriesland.
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In vielen der rund 135 mittelalterlichen Kirchen der ostfriesischen Halbinsel haben sich wichtige Teile der Ausstattung aus der Zeit vor der Reformation erhalten. Diese Stücke wurden für diese Studie der Universität Groningen... more
In vielen der rund 135 mittelalterlichen Kirchen der ostfriesischen Halbinsel haben sich wichtige Teile der Ausstattung aus der Zeit vor der Reformation erhalten. Diese Stücke wurden für diese Studie der Universität Groningen (Niederlande) zum ersten Mal umfassend untersucht. Der Fokus liegt auf den Elementen, die im liturgischen Ritus von Bedeutung waren bzw. dessen Dekor darstellten. Die 20 Kapitel sind wie ein Rundgang durch ein fiktives Kirchengebäude aufgebaut, angefangen beim Altar im Chor und endend bei den Tauf- und Weihwasserbecken im Westen der Kirche. Anhand zahlreicher Farbfotos werden dem Leser die Gegenstände als Zeugen der Frömmigkeit und des Kunstsinns in ihrer räumlichen Umgebung vor Augen geführt. So lässt sich von Ostfriesland das Bild einer überreichen, bisher unterbewerteten Kunstlandschaft zeichnen.
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Das Raumbild mittelalterlicher Kirchen war geprägt durch zahlreiche Seitenaltäre an den Pfeilern zwischen den Schiffen oder in Seitenkapellen von Langhaus, Querhaus und Chor. Dieses Raumbild ist heute selten anzutreffen. Oft erinnern nur... more
Das Raumbild mittelalterlicher Kirchen war geprägt durch zahlreiche Seitenaltäre an den Pfeilern zwischen den Schiffen oder in Seitenkapellen von Langhaus, Querhaus und Chor. Dieses Raumbild ist heute selten anzutreffen. Oft erinnern nur noch Indizien an verschwundene Altäre und geben Anhaltspunkte für die Rekonstruktion der ursprünglichen Anordnung. Welche Auswirkung hatten die mittelalterlichen Seitenaltäre auf die Wahrnehmung des Raums? Sie waren zentraler Bestandteil des religiösen Erlebens, der Liturgie und der Glaubenspraxis. Den wichtigsten Standorten von Seitenaltären wird auf einem fiktiven Gang durch eine spätmittelalterliche Kirche nachgegangen. Die in zahlreichen Abbildungen gezeigten Beispiele zeigen die liturgische Nutzung des Kirchenraums in Nord- und Mitteleuropa und sind eine wichtige Quelle für die Frömmigkeitsgeschichte der Epoche. Einführung in die Bedeutung der Seitenaltäre als zentraler Bestandteil der mittelalterlichen Kirchenausstattung
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Spain and Portugal possess a wealth of medieval churches, including many with original furnishings. Most outstanding of all is the altarpiece or 'retablo', the epitome of Iberian ecclesiastical art. With its exceptional dimensions,... more
Spain and Portugal possess a wealth of medieval churches, including many with original furnishings. Most outstanding of all is the altarpiece or 'retablo', the epitome of Iberian ecclesiastical art. With its exceptional dimensions, architectural structure and extensive imagery, it became clearly distinct from altarpieces elsewhere in Europe. The retable cannot be understood simply as an artistic genre, but must be viewed in its spatial surroundings and against its religious and socio-cultural background. In the present study, the medieval altarpiece in the Iberian Peninsula is approached as a witness to liturgy, faith and devotion. Part I sketches its morphological development from its origins around 1100 to the end of the Gothic age in the first half of the sixteenth century. Part II analyses the retable in its spatial context, formed by the architecture of the church building and other elements of the interior such as the choir. In Part III the retable is discussed as a means of communication, conveying a message between the patron who commissioned it and the recipients. Both as an art object and as a bearer of imagery, the altar retable played an important part in the staging of liturgy in the medieval church of the Iberian Peninsula.
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Brochure (in Dutch) on the meaning and cultural value of protestant church heritage in the Netherlands, published by the Protestant Church in the the Netherlands (PKN).
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Study (in Dutch) resulting from a PhD project at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) on medieval altarpieces in the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on aspects of form, spatial environment, and pictorial message. Subsequently... more
Study (in Dutch) resulting from a PhD project at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) on medieval altarpieces in the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on aspects of form, spatial environment, and pictorial message. Subsequently published in English in 2009, in a further elaborated, as Staging the Liturgy (see above in this list).
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Throughout the centuries, commemoration of the events happened at Golgotha has been given form and expression in Western European Christian tradition in two different ways: through the visual arts (architecture and sculpture), and within... more
Throughout the centuries, commemoration of the events happened at Golgotha has been given form and expression in Western European Christian tradition in two different ways: through the visual arts (architecture and sculpture), and within the liturgy. This book gives a diachronic outline of the development of the Holy Sepulchre as a central theme within the tradition of Western European Christianity. Its aim is to cover both representation and function. Two lines are followed in the study, corresponding to these two aspects. The first analyses the historical development of the Holy Sepulchre in its many manifestations from late Antiquity up to the present day, with particular attention to the cultural and historic context. This section is well illustrated with over a hundred photographs (partly in colour) and many ground-plans. The second section consists of an analysis of the use of the Holy Sepulchre throughout the centuries, including a description of the liturgical function of the Easter sepulchre during the Holy Week and Easter, and its role in worship. The final chapter presents the main areas in which various aspects of manifestations and function complement each other.
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A brief account (in Dutch) of the spread, form and interior furnishings of so-called Rooms of Silence (in Dutch: stiltecentra), aka meditation rooms or private prayer chapels in the Netherlands anno 1997. A survey research commissioned by... more
A brief account (in Dutch) of the spread, form and interior furnishings of so-called Rooms of Silence (in Dutch: stiltecentra), aka meditation rooms or private prayer chapels in the Netherlands anno 1997. A survey research commissioned by the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN).
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Altarpieces are among the most outstanding and celebrated achievements of medieval art. They continuously grew larger and more magnificent. However, the road that led to them was a complex, multi-path process in which different object... more
Altarpieces are among the most outstanding and celebrated achievements of medieval art. They continuously grew larger and more magnificent. However, the road that led to them was a complex, multi-path process in which different object types were combined, mixed and merged in a variety of innovative ways. In this process, tabernacle-altarpieces (also known as tabernacle shrines) played a remarkable role. Tabernacle-altarpieces can be defined as more or less architecturally shaped enclosures containing one singe figure that could be closed off with movable wings. This volume aims to explore such altarpieces as a European object type on the road leading to late medieval altarpieces. Tabernacle-altarpieces were fashionable across Western Europe between the twelfth and the fourteenth centuries, from Finland to Spain and from Iceland to Italy. Despite their often (but not always!) modest size, tabernacle-altarpieces heralded essential aspects of later altarpieces, such as the combination of media (sculpture and painting), the juxtaposition of representational and narrative iconography, and the possibility to conceal and disclose holy figures inside. Moreover, they were by no means superseded by 'fully-fledged' altarpieces, since the phenomenon lived on during the Late Middle Ages.
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Today, it is hard to believe that a Catalan traveller in the high Middle Ages would have had no difficulty following Mass in a country church somewhere in Norway and understanding the images found there. Between 1100 and 1350, the... more
Today, it is hard to believe that a Catalan traveller in the high Middle Ages would have had no difficulty following Mass in a country church somewhere in Norway and understanding the images found there. Between 1100 and 1350, the liturgical rituals and the decorations of the altars were practically the same throughout Western Europe. Europe’s cultural unity is reflected through religious art more than through anything else. Surviving altar decorations from the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries are distributed unevenly across the continent; it is only in the North and South that these early works of church art have survived in considerable numbers. Since no direct connection existed between Norway and Catalonia, we may assume that similar art forms with their associated vocabulary were also found in all the countries that lie in between. This lavishly illustrated publication shows that all of Western Europe drew from a shared stock of religious images and convictions, expressions and symbols. The panel paintings, sculptures and liturgical vessels from North and South collected in this exhibition are testimonies to a common European culture that went hand in hand with the spread of Christianity across the continent.
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In veel Noord-Nederlandse dorpen is de ambtswoning van de dominee – de ‘pastorie’ – onmiddellijk herkenbaar als een statig historisch pand naast de kerk. Deze rijk geïllustreerde bundel behandelt de pastorie niet alleen als gebouw, maar... more
In veel Noord-Nederlandse dorpen is de ambtswoning van de dominee – de ‘pastorie’ – onmiddellijk herkenbaar als een statig historisch pand naast de kerk. Deze rijk geïllustreerde bundel behandelt de pastorie niet alleen als gebouw, maar ook als werk- en leefruimte van haar bewoners: predikanten en hun gezinnen. Aan de hand van historische bijdragen en interviews met hedendaagse bewoners ontstaat een beeld van de rijke geschiedenis en de veranderende betekenis van de protestantse pastorie in het Noord-Nederlandse cultuurlandschap. In onze tijd dreigt het traditionele ‘pastorieleven’ als gevolg van de ontkerkelijking te verdwijnen. Een constante bij alle veranderingen is dat de pastorie door de eeuwen heen in een waas van geheimzinnigheid gehuld is geweest. Dit boek biedt een inkijk achter de voordeur van dit bijzondere huis – nu het nog kan.
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Technology and conservation are indispensible to our understanding of the history of religious art. Material and technical aspects of historical art works yield a great deal of information about provenance, and thus reflect the cultural... more
Technology and conservation are indispensible to our understanding of the history of religious art. Material and technical aspects of historical art works yield a great deal of information about provenance, and thus reflect the cultural networks that characterized the world that produced them. Furthermore, the imagery and decoration of art works express their religious meanings, while details including reworking and damage may inform us about their use (or disuse) in liturgy and devotion. The Swedish conservator and art historian Peter Tångeberg has shown how the insights and methods of art conservation can make important steps in the history of art (not least religious art). He has brought the wealth of medieval and early modern art works in Scandinavia to a European audience and opened up new discussions – as well as stirring up old ones – on a range of aspects, including the transfer of styles and motifs, materials and technologies across Central and Northern Europe. This volume, which is dedicated to Tångeberg by fifteen friends and colleagues on the occasion of his 75th birthday, reflects much of his long and fruitful professional life. All of the contributions pursue a combined perspective on technical/material issues and contextual (mostly liturgical or devotional) aspects. The art works cover the period from c. 1100 to c. 1800 and all originated in the wide area of Tångeberg’s scholarly activity, especially Scandinavia and large parts of Western and Central Europe.
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This volume explores the architecture and configuration of Romanesque cathedrals in Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, paying special attention to liturgical ritual, furnishings, iconography, and urban context. From the tenth to... more
This volume explores the architecture and configuration of Romanesque cathedrals in Europe, especially around the Mediterranean, paying special attention to liturgical ritual, furnishings, iconography, and urban context. From the tenth to the twelfth centuries, cultural and artistic interchange around the Mediterranean gave rise to the first truly European art period in Medieval Western Europe, commonly referred to as ‘Romanesque’. A crucial aspect of this integrative process was the mobility of artists, architects and patrons, as well as the capacity to adopt new formulas and integrate them into existing patterns. Some particularly creative centers exported successful models, while others became genuine melting pots. All this took shape over the substrate of Roman Antiquity, which remained in high esteem and was frequently reused. In these studies, Romanesque cathedrals are employed as a lens with which to analyze the complexity and dynamics of the cultural landscape of southern and central Europe from the tenth to the twelfth centuries. The architecture of every cathedral is the result of a long and complicated process of morphogenesis, defined by spatial conditions and the availability of building materials. Their interior arrangements and imagery largely reflected ritual practice and the desire to express local identities. The various contributions to this volume discuss the architecture, interior, and urban setting of Romanesque cathedrals and analyze the factors which helped to shape them. In so doing, the focus is both on the influence of patrons and on more bottom-up factors, including community practices.
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Periods of transition are often symbolically associated with death, making the latter the paradigm of liminality. Yet, many volumes on death in the social sciences and humanities do not specifically address liminality. This book... more
Periods of transition are often symbolically associated with death, making the latter the paradigm of liminality. Yet, many volumes on death in the social sciences and humanities do not specifically address liminality. This book investigates these “ultimate ambiguities,” assuming they can pose a threat to social relationships because of the disintegrating forces of death, but they are also crucial periods of creativity, change, and emergent aspects of social and religious life. Contributors explore death and liminality from an interdisciplinary perspective and present a global range of historical and contemporary case studies outlining emotional, cognitive, artistic, social, and political implications.
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Deze bundel eert hymnoloog en organist Jan Roelof Luth bij zijn afscheid van de faculteit Godgeleerdheid en Godsdienstwetenschap van de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in november 2016. Met zijn vertrek komt tevens een einde aan een... more
Deze bundel eert hymnoloog en organist Jan Roelof Luth bij zijn afscheid van de faculteit Godgeleerdheid en Godsdienstwetenschap van de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in november 2016. Met zijn vertrek komt tevens een einde aan een vijfenveertig jaar lange traditie van hymnologisch onderzoek aan deze faculteit. Dit boek bevat studies uit de kerkelijke ‘achterhoek’, zoals Casper Honders het terrein van de kerkmuziek eens noemde. Dertien vakgenoten uit binnen- en buitenland schreven bijdragen die de onderzoeksterreinen van Jan Luth bestrijken: Bach, het kerklied en het orgel.
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This volume studies the profound changes and developments of sacred spaces in contemporary Western culture. Various in-depth essays explore the dynamics of ritual space and ritual, musealisation and memorial culture. Short contributions... more
This volume studies the profound changes and developments of sacred spaces in contemporary Western culture. Various in-depth essays explore the dynamics of ritual space and ritual, musealisation and memorial culture. Short contributions on specific cases present the broad field of ritual and 'sacred places' in Western culture, ranging from traditional places of religious worship to new ritual spaces.
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This volume in honour of Jan N. Bremmer contains the contributions of numerous students, colleagues, and friends offered to him on the occasion of his 65th birthday. In line with these three main areas of Bremmer’s research, the volume is... more
This volume in honour of Jan N. Bremmer contains the contributions of numerous students, colleagues, and friends offered to him on the occasion of his 65th birthday. In line with these three main areas of Bremmer’s research, the volume is divided into three parts, bringing together contributions from distinguished scholars in many fields. The result is a diverse book which provides a broad spectrum of original ideas and innovative approaches in the history of religions, thus reflecting the nature of the scholarship of Bremmer himself.
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The articles collected in this volume discuss the rise and spread of the altarpiece, or retable, as the standard altar decoration across Europe during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Historians of art and liturgy have addressed... more
The articles collected in this volume discuss the rise and spread of the altarpiece, or retable, as the standard altar decoration across Europe during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Historians of art and liturgy have addressed such issues as the relations with other types of altar furnishings, regional variants, and their architectural, liturgical and socio-political context. The papers grew out of a symposium held at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) in June, 2006, in which fourteen scholars from eight different countries participated. The period under scrutiny, c. 1150-c. 1400, has hitherto received only limited scholarly attention. It starts when the altarpiece was well established and ends with the great regional diversification of object types (such as the polyptych in Italy and the winged altarpiece in northern and central Europe). In turn, the altar decorations studied here are characterized by a relative uniformity stretching across media and regions, which enables comparisons to be made. The objects studied can be found in such diverse locations as Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, the Low Countries, central France, Catalonia, Mallorca, northern and central Italy, and Cyprus. This pan-European scope reveals connections that for many have always gone unnoticed, and contributes to a new perspective on European art that transcends modern national boundaries. The volume is illustrated with a wealth of plates and figures.
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A collection of studies (in Dutch) on old churches in the Dutch province of Groningen, focusing on buildings, furnishings and imagery.
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A collection of studies (in Dutch) on the tension between heritage conservation and liturgical renewal based on a symposium held at the University of Groningen.
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Festschrift (in Dutch) offered to Dr Regnerus Steensma on the occasion of his retirement from the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Groningen in 2002, containing a number of studies surrounding church... more
Festschrift (in Dutch) offered to Dr Regnerus Steensma on the occasion of his retirement from the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Groningen in 2002, containing a number of studies surrounding church buildings, church furnishings, and religious art from the Middle Ages to the present.
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Edited volume (in Dutch) on the old court house building in the Boteringestraat in Groningen that now houses the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.
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A study (in Spanish) on choir partitions in different countries of Europe comparing the "trascoros" of Spain with the "Lettner" of Germany, particularly in Zamora and Halberstadt Cathedrals. Contribution to a Festschrift for Prof. Jesús... more
A study (in Spanish) on choir partitions in different countries of Europe comparing the "trascoros" of Spain with the "Lettner" of Germany, particularly in Zamora and Halberstadt Cathedrals. Contribution to a Festschrift for Prof. Jesús Rivas Carmona at the University of Murcia (Spain).
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Article about views on medieval church art in the context of emerging national self-consciousness in Norway during the nineteenth century, and especially the role of museums. Title and index of the volume in which it is published and... more
Article about views on medieval church art in the context of emerging national self-consciousness in Norway during the nineteenth century, and especially the role of museums. Title and index of the volume in which it is published and first pages of the chapter (full article available through a direct message)
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Article (in German) on the unparalleled wealth of medieval furnishings found in the 91 parish churches of the Swedish island of Gotland, with a focus on the high middle ages (12th-14th centuries).
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A study on medieval Eucharistic tabernacles preserved in Spain distinguishing seven types, ranging from caskets to niches and towers. Chapter in a volume on sacred microarchitecture edited by Ilia Rodov. Here are only the title page and... more
A study on medieval Eucharistic tabernacles preserved in Spain distinguishing seven types, ranging from caskets to niches and towers. Chapter in a volume on sacred microarchitecture edited by Ilia Rodov. Here are only the title page and index of the book. A pdf of the entire chapter is available through a direct message to the authors.
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Study (in Norwegian) of medieval side altars and the vestiges thereof in the parish church at Ringsaker, Norway.
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The medieval interior ensembles found in the ninety-one country churches on Gotland together represent a unique artistic and liturgical heritage. Baptismal fonts, benches, side altars, alms boxes, roods, choir stalls, high altars,... more
The medieval interior ensembles found in the ninety-one country churches on Gotland together represent a unique artistic and liturgical heritage. Baptismal fonts, benches, side altars, alms boxes, roods, choir stalls, high altars, retables, tabernacles, piscinas, and other types of furnishings have been preserved largely in their original spatial environments. Most of the elements were created at a relatively early stage, roughly between 1150 and 1350. They are the silent witnesses to the prosperity of an affluent Baltic island that in spite of its location in the far north of Europe maintained close economic and cultural connections with many other parts of the continent (and even beyond). Thus, the high medieval church furnishings of Gotland afford unique insights into the liturgical furnishings of medieval churches tout court, which are largely lost in other countries. In view of these facts, it may be concluded that our understanding of high medieval church interiors in their spatial and functional coherence would remain incomplete if the wonders of Gotland are not included.
Study of a fragmented Eucharistic tabernacle from the early sixteenth century from a rural parish church in the Spanish Basque Country and the French sculptor to whom the piece can be attributed. The pdf only included the first two pages.... more
Study of a fragmented Eucharistic tabernacle from the early sixteenth century from a rural parish church in the Spanish Basque Country and the French sculptor to whom the piece can be attributed. The pdf only included the first two pages. The entire document is available via a direct message to the authors.
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Article (in English and Norwegian) on representations of the Norwegian St Sunniva in medieval painting and sculpture in Norway and elsewhere.
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Introduction to a collection of essays on medieval tabernacle shrines from the 12th to the 14th century (see also under Edited Volumes: The Saint Enshrined).
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Tabernacle shrines from the period 1180-1400 are rare today, and not a single one is entirely preserved with its original polychromy and in the context for which it was made. Most examples are found in Scandinavia, Italy, and the Iberian... more
Tabernacle shrines from the period 1180-1400 are rare today, and not a single one is entirely preserved with its original polychromy and in the context for which it was made. Most examples are found in Scandinavia, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula, which indicates that such shrines were a European phenomenon. This is confirmed by isolated survivals found in intermediate locations in France, Germany, and Slovakia. The similarities between these objects from the North, Center, and South of Europe enable us to follow their Europe-wide development. The one country that possesses by far the largest number of preserved tabernacle shrines is Sweden. This is why the present study refers to Swedish examples to identify European types. The first type is the 'Appuna-type' shrines, dating from c. 1200, that contain an early sculpture of the Sedes Sapientiae. The second group are shrines of the Fröskog-type, which are characterized by the presense of reliefs on the interiors of their wings. The third type, more vertical and of architectural character, is called the 'Kil-type' and had its largest spread during the fourteenth century.
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Article (in Dutch) on a tabernacle shrine of French origin in the Helmantel Collection and its European context.
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Introductory essay to the catalogue North & South accompanying the exhibition with the same title, shown at Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (the Netherlands) and Museu Episcopal in Vic (Catalonia, Spain), in 2019-2020.
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A European overview of altars and altar equipments in the period 1100-1350 fom a combined liturgical and artistic perspective. Introductory chapter to the catalogue North & South acommpanying the exhibition with the same title, shown in... more
A European overview of altars and altar equipments in the period 1100-1350 fom a combined liturgical and artistic perspective. Introductory chapter to the catalogue North & South acommpanying the exhibition with the same title, shown in Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (the Netherlands) and the Museu Episcopal of Vic (Catalonia, Spain) in 2019-2020.
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A brief outline of the vicissitudes of high medieval altar decorations in Europe, introductory essay in the exhibition catalogue North & South, 2019-2020.
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In den kunsthistorischen Handbüchern wird die Entwicklung des mittelalterlichen Retabels meistens als ein evolutionärer Prozess von mehr oder weniger linearem Charakter dargestellt. In großen Zügen sollte es von einfach bis komplex und... more
In den kunsthistorischen Handbüchern wird die Entwicklung des mittelalterlichen Retabels meistens als ein evolutionärer Prozess von mehr oder weniger linearem Charakter dargestellt. In großen Zügen sollte es von einfach bis komplex und von eher klein zu eher groß gewachsen sein. Diese Darstellung basiert oft auf Retabeln ohne räumlichen Kontext: Viele befinden sich heute isoliert in Museen und sind aus ihrem ursprünglichen Bezugsrahmen herausgelöst. Nur selten wird bei der Einordnung der Stücke auf den Raum, wo das Retabel ursprünglich aufgestellt war, und dessen Einfluss auf die Gestaltung des Objektes geachtet. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, das Verhältnis zwischen Retabel und Raum anhand von konkreten Beispielen in verschiedenen europäischen Ländern zu erkunden. So lässt sich feststellen, dass die wechselnden Raumbedingungen vor Ort eine große Formenvielfalt zur Folge hatten; die spezifische Gestaltung vieler Retabel hängt engstens mit dem Raum, wo sie sich ursprünglich befanden, zusammen. Unter Raum sei einerseits der architektonische Innenraum der Kirche mit seinen konkreten Maßverhältnissen verstanden, andererseits das Verhältnis des Retabels zu Pfeilern, Wandmalereien, Fenstern, Wandnischen und anderen Elementen des Innenraums und der Ausstattung. So wird deutlich, dass das Retabel oft Teil eines größeren, zusammengewachsenen Ganzen war, ein ‚Ensemble' , worin verschiedene Objekte und Materialien kombiniert waren.
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A survey (in Dutch) of medieval church art in the collection of Museum Helmantel in Westeremden (Groningen, the Netherlands).
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Essay (in Dutch) on the early sixteenth-century wooden rood screen in the parish church of Holwierde (Groningen, the Netherlands) in its European context, contribution to the festschrift for prof. Jos Koldeweij on the occasion of his... more
Essay (in Dutch) on the early sixteenth-century wooden rood screen in the parish church of Holwierde (Groningen, the Netherlands) in its European context, contribution to the festschrift for prof. Jos Koldeweij on the occasion of his retirement in 2019.
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Obwohl manche niederländischen Städte schon früh in die Hanse eingebunden waren und sich zu bedeutenden Mitgliedern entwickelten, ist dieses Gebiet am westlichen Rand der hansischen Welt in vielen Hinsichten immer eine Übergangszone... more
Obwohl manche niederländischen Städte schon früh in die Hanse eingebunden waren und sich zu bedeutenden Mitgliedern entwickelten, ist dieses Gebiet am westlichen Rand der hansischen Welt in vielen Hinsichten immer eine Übergangszone geblieben. Aus dem obigen Überblick der Ausstattung der mittelalterlichen Kirchen in den niederländischen Hansestädten ist deutlich geworden, dass die Kirchenkunst im 13. und 14. Jahrhundert sehr eng mit Westfalen verbunden war, und zwar noch stärker als mit der „eigenen“ Bischofsstadt Utrecht. Während des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts verschob sich die kulturelle und künstlerische Orientierung dann allmählich nach Süden und Westen, ins Niederrheingebiet, in die südlichen Niederlanden, und noch später auch in die Grafschaft Holland. Diese Entwicklung kommt, wie dargelegt wurde, unter anderem in der Form und Herkunft von Altären, Skulpturen und Taufen zum Ausdruck. Der künstlerische Austausch mit dem Ostseegebiet lässt sich nur schwer feststellen – in diesem Beitrag konnte lediglich bei den Chorgestühlen auf direkte Zusammenhänge hingewiesen werden. Nach dem Frieden von Speyer 1544 waren es die Holländer, die allmählich den Ostseehandel beherrschten und damit nicht nur die norddeutschen Städte, sondern auch die Hansestädte im eigenen Hinterland überflügelten. Dank diesem wirtschaftlichen Niedergang gehören die historischen Innenstädte von Kampen, Zwolle, Elburg, Deventer und Zutphen heute jedoch zu den am besten erhaltenen mittelalterlichen Stadtkernen der Niederlande.
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A study (in German) of the wooden Sacrament tower from ca. 1360 in the former abbey church at Doberan (Germany) in the wider context of tabernacle niches and towers found around the the southern Baltic Sea, especially in the churches of... more
A study (in German) of the wooden Sacrament tower from ca. 1360 in the former abbey church at Doberan (Germany) in the wider context of tabernacle niches and towers found around the the southern Baltic Sea, especially in the churches of Gotland.
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Introduction in three languages (Dutch, English and German) to the book The Frisian Eleven Churches Tour (see also the Monographs section) published in 2018, giving a brief outline of the transformation of Frisian village churches between... more
Introduction in three languages (Dutch, English and German) to the book The Frisian Eleven Churches Tour (see also the Monographs section) published in 2018, giving a brief outline of the transformation of Frisian village churches between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period.
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A brief cultural history (in Dutch) of the Protestant vicarage in the Northern Netherlands from the Reformation to the present as the living and working space of ministers and their family. Introduction to an edited volume on the same... more
A brief cultural history (in Dutch) of the Protestant vicarage in the Northern Netherlands from the Reformation to the present as the living and working space of ministers and their family. Introduction to an edited volume on the same topic (see also the section Edited Volumes).
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Article (in German) on medieval priest's slabs found in pre-Reformation churches in Groningen (the Netherlands) and neighbouring East Frisia (Germany)
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The aim of this chapter (in German) in honour of Peter Tångeberg is to gain a better understanding of tabernacle shrines — that is, architecturally designed receptacles containing a single sculpture — as crowning elements on altarpieces... more
The aim of this chapter (in German) in honour of Peter Tångeberg is to gain a better understanding of tabernacle shrines — that is, architecturally designed receptacles containing a single sculpture — as crowning elements on altarpieces in late medieval Netherlandish art. A fundamental obstacle in this endeavour is the almost complete loss of medieval altar decorations in both the Northern and Southern Netherlands and the disappearance of most of their original spatial contexts. Due to iconoclasm, Reformation and Counter-Reformation, not a single example of the mentioned ‘altar ensembles’ has survived in situ. The argument in this article builds on three types of evidence. Most indispensable are contemporary depictions of church interiors as they appear on late medieval panel paintings and in miniatures in illuminated manuscripts. Such images, which appear to quite closely reflect real late medieval altar decorations, may help to gain an impression of both the wide spread and variety of such composite altar decorations in late medieval church interiors in the Low Countries. The following section studies a number of objects that are likely to have been part of altar ensembles of the mentioned type. These materials, which survive both in churches and museums, include both image shrines, which served as crowning elements, and table retables, which served as supports. Third, a number of passages in literary sources, including invoices and commissions, are discussed in which combinations of retable and image shrine are more or less explicitly described. This combination of the tangible and intangible evidence of altar ensembles consisting of retables and crowning shrines sheds new light on a category of altar decorations that must have been
typical of Netherlandish art at the peak of its prestige but has vanished almost completely in the centuries since.
typical of Netherlandish art at the peak of its prestige but has vanished almost completely in the centuries since.
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Essay (in Norwegian) on the preserving effect of Lutheranism vis-à-vis other confessions in Europe in the age of the Reformations.
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Alongside the vast destruction of church interiors which took place during the Calvinist Reformation in the Netherlands, some medieval furnishings survived the Protestant purge, at times in remarkable numbers. An object category that can... more
Alongside the vast destruction of church interiors which took place during the Calvinist Reformation in the Netherlands, some medieval furnishings survived the Protestant purge, at times in remarkable numbers. An object category that can be found relatively often are medieval screens and galleries, that are still present in about thirty-five churches. This essay studies these pre-Reformation choir partitions, both with galleries (called 'doksalen') and without ('koorhekken'). The last section discusses the reasons for their preservation in Dutch Protestantism, contrary to so many other medieval fittings that were massively removed during sixteenth-century Iconoclasm and its aftermath.
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Introductory essay to an edited volume on Romanesque cathedrals in Mediterranean Europe (see also under Edited Volumes).
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Article in honour of Prof. Sible de Blaauw on the occasion of his retirement in 2016. Alongside the many changes brought about by the Calvinist Reformation, there were also important elements of continuity in how churches were furnished... more
Article in honour of Prof. Sible de Blaauw on the occasion of his retirement in 2016. Alongside the many changes brought about by the Calvinist Reformation, there were also important elements of continuity in how churches were furnished and used for religious services. These elements have traditionally been largely overlooked, as scholarship has rather tended to focus on caesuras in theology, liturgy and mentality. The traditional function of the nave as a preaching space was maintained and even reinforced with the transition to Calvinism, resulting in pulpits being retained or, if replaced, remaining in the same position. The importance of preaching was often emphasized through the addition of carvings to the drums. Many reformed churches featured a screen or gallery on the boundary of the chancel, as had been the case in medieval churches. This now formed a natural backdrop to the nave, where the religious service was concentrated, and also concealed the utilitarian purposes of the chancel – as a storage space, as a school or meeting room. Another reason why many screens were kept in place is that the chancels of many churches were intended for the occasional celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the Calvinist successor to the medieval Mass. This ritual use of the chancel could go hand-in-hand with the creation of mausoleums through the erection of tombs and other memorials for the elites. All of these developments resulted in many Dutch Calvinist churches being neither austere nor devoid of images, as they are generally believed to be.
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A historical account of the development of church interiors in the Netherlands from the year 1000 to the present. Photos by Arjan Bronkhorst.
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Several of 100 case studies (in Dutch) on interior ensembles found in historical churches in the Netherlands, published in a beautiful book in 2016, written by Justin Kroesen: no. 6 Krewerd, 13 Ter Apel, 33 Middelstum, 36 Noordwolde, 51... more
Several of 100 case studies (in Dutch) on interior ensembles found in historical churches in the Netherlands, published in a beautiful book in 2016, written by Justin Kroesen: no. 6 Krewerd, 13 Ter Apel, 33 Middelstum, 36 Noordwolde, 51 Middelstum. Photos by Arjan Bronkhorst.
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Soem reflections (in Dutch, English, and German) on paintings showing church interiors by the Dutch painter Henk Helmantel.
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This chapter (in Dutch) presents an overview of surviving medieval organs in country churches, that were more widespread across Western Europe than is believed traditionally. Several rural parish churches on the island of Gotland (Sweden)... more
This chapter (in Dutch) presents an overview of surviving medieval organs in country churches, that were more widespread across Western Europe than is believed traditionally. Several rural parish churches on the island of Gotland (Sweden) had organs as early as the fourteenth century, and the same is true of the coastal areas of the Netherlands and Northern Germany in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The survival pattern of medieval organs helps to remind us of the fact that traditional concepts of centre and periphery do not work for medieval Europe: some rural areas appear to have been at least as developed and connected as larger urban centres. Chapter from a volume on Bach, church music and organs (see also the section of Edited Volumes).
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After the refutation of purgatory by sixteenth-century Reformers, the idea of the soul’s sleep became widespread among most Protestants. While the body is laid down to rest in the grave, the soul of the deceased enters a state of sleep... more
After the refutation of purgatory by sixteenth-century Reformers, the idea of the soul’s sleep became widespread among most Protestants. While the body is laid down to rest in the grave, the soul of the deceased enters a state of sleep until it is awakened by Christ for the Last Judgment. The nature of this sleep remained disputed: while Luther imagined death as an unconscious, deep state of sleep, when “a thousand years would be like one day,” Calvin propagated the idea of a vigilant sleep, in anxious anticipation of the Second Coming. This article discusses the ways in which these views were expressed in art and music by taking a close look at Rombout Verhulst’s sculpted tombs from the Calvinist northern Netherlands in the seventeenth century and the texts accompanying Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantatas in Lutheran Germany during the eighteenth century.
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Alongside the many changes brought about by the Calvinist Reformation, there were also important elements of continuity in how churches were furnished and used for religious services. These elements have traditionally been largely... more
Alongside the many changes brought about by the Calvinist Reformation, there were also important elements of continuity in how churches were furnished and used for religious services. These elements have traditionally been largely overlooked, as scholarship has rather tended to focus on caesuras in theology, liturgy and mentality. The traditional function of the nave as a preaching space was maintained and even reinforced with the transition to Calvinism, resulting in pulpits being retained or, if replaced, remaining in the same position. The importance of preaching was often emphasized through the addition of carvings to the drums. Many reformed churches featured a screen or gallery on the boundary of the chancel, as had been the case in medieval churches. This now formed a natural backdrop to the nave, where the religious service was concentrated, and also concealed the utilitarian purposes of the chancel – as a storage space, as a school or meeting room. Another reason why many screens were kept in place is that the chancels of many churches were intended for the occasional celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the Calvinist successor to the medieval Mass. This ritual use of the chancel could go hand-in-hand with the creation of mausoleums through the erection of tombs and other memorials for the elites. All of these developments resulted in many Dutch Calvinist churches being neither austere nor devoid of images, as they are generally believed to be.
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A brief essay (in Dutch) on the surprising wealth of artistic decorations found in Protestant churches in the Netherlands.
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An article (in Dutch) on the work of Dr Regnerus Steensma concerning the study of religious art of the past and present in the Netherlands.
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Of all surviving medieval altar furnishings now found in churches and museums, retables form by far the largest group. It is often forgotten, however, that other altar furnishings that are usually regarded as typical of the Romanesque... more
Of all surviving medieval altar furnishings now found in churches and museums, retables form by far the largest group. It is often forgotten, however, that other altar furnishings that are usually regarded as typical of the Romanesque remained current until the very end of the Middle Ages. In this study, the attention is focused on the continued existence of these categories, including frontals, canopies and baldachins, and saints' sculptures placed on the altar. It is noteworthy that in many instances different objects were combined together in 'altar ensembles'. Most examples studied have survived in remote areas of rural Europe and can be found on side altars rather than on the main altar.
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A brief analysis (in Dutch) of a painted panel from c. 1500 in Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (the Netherlands) showing the apparition of the Virgin in a Dominicans' church, focusing on the depicted church furnishings.
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Introductory chapter (in Dutch) to the catalogue accompanying an exhibition on medieval liturgical furnishings and objects from Groningen and East Frisia, on show in Museum Het Hoogeland in Warffum (the Netherlands) in 2012.
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A brief study (in Dutch) of the oldest preserved chancel screen in the Netherlands, in St Peter's Church in Leiden, dating from c. 1425.
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A case study of the former monastery of the Crutched Friars in Maastricht (the Netherlands), now a high-end hotel, contribution to an edited volume on the dynamics of sacred places in modern Western culture.
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A case study of the repurposed medieval church of Groenlo (the Netherlands), contribution to an edited volume on the dynamics of sacred places in modern Western culture.
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A case study of visitors' responses to the medieval church at Zeerijp (Groningen, the Netherlands), contribution to an edited vlume on the dynamics of sacred space in modern Western culture.
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A case study of the church and chapel in the Citigroup-building in New York, contribution to an edited volume on the dynamics of sacred places in modern Western culture.
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A study (in German) of the variety in types and forms of piscinas found in medieval churches, and their function in liturgical ritual.
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Introductory chapter to the Festschrift Myths, Martyrs and Modernity . Studies in the history of Religions in Honour of Jan N. Bemmer relating the contents of the volume to the scholarly biography of the honoree.
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Article (in Dutch) on the secular re-use of churches in the Netherlands and the public feelings connected to it
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Study of the fate of redundant and reused churches in the Netherlands anno 2010.
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During the twentieth century, Dutch Protestant churches and their furnishings underwent a process of change and development moving away from traditional designs and layouts towards more open-plan, pluralistic models. At first, the urge... more
During the twentieth century, Dutch Protestant churches and their furnishings underwent a process of change and development moving away from traditional designs and layouts towards more open-plan, pluralistic models. At first, the urge for renewal was mainly felt in architecture, which abandoned tradition with a series of new forms and styles. From the 1930s onwards, new liturgical insights propagated by the so-called Liturgical Movement deeply influenced church furnishings, both in newly built and historic churches. In the course of the 1960s and 1970s, along with the continuing influence of the Liturgical Movement, many changes followed the desires of the church community, who sought to play a more active, engaged role both in the liturgy and in its relations with the outside world. By the end of the century, a sharp decrease in church membership and church attendance left many church buildings financially burdensome or even redundant, demanding that new uses be found for these buildings.
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A historiographical survey (in Dutch) of 25 years of research on the furnishings and use of historical church buildings in the Netherlands prior to 2010.
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Article (in Dutch) on the history of the medieval church tower in Kloosterburen in the Dutch province of Groningen.
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This article proposes storytelling as a tool to return historic church buildings to the people in today’s secularized society. It starts by recognizing the unique qualities shared by most historic churches, namely that they are (1)... more
This article proposes storytelling as a tool to return historic church buildings to the people in today’s secularized society. It starts by recognizing the unique qualities shared by most historic churches, namely that they are (1) different from most other buildings, (2) unusually old, and (3) are often characterized by beautiful exteriors and interiors. The argument builds on the storytelling strategies that were chosen in two recent book projects co-written by the author of this article, on historic churches in the northern Dutch provinces of Frisia (Fryslân) and Groningen. Among the many stories “told” by the Frisian and Groningen churches and their interiors, three categories are specifically highlighted. First, the religious aspect of the buildings’ history, from which most of its forms, fittings, and imagery are derived, and which increasingly needs to be explained in a largely post-Christian society. Second, churches tell us local histories, because they were the communities...
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The thirteenth-century relic shrine from Filefjell (Norway), which is now part of the church art collection at the University Museum of Bergen, is among the most richly decorated and best preserved of its type in Scandinavia. The... more
The thirteenth-century relic shrine from Filefjell (Norway), which is now part of the church art collection at the University Museum of Bergen, is among the most richly decorated and best preserved of its type in Scandinavia. The house-shape of the shrine and its supporting structure correspond to that of contemporary relic shrines found across Europe. Its crowning, a tendrilled crest with projecting dragonheads at both ends, however, was drawn from local pre-Christian artistic traditions in Viking woodcarving. Most fascinating are the motifs that decorate the shrine's sides, which are derived from foreign and much older canons, namely that of early Christian (Christ and the apostles) and Classical art (medallions).
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Tabernacle shrines from the period 1180-1400 are rare today, and not a single one is entirely preserved with its original polychromy and in the context for which it was made. Most examples are found in Scandinavia, Italy, and the Iberian... more
Tabernacle shrines from the period 1180-1400 are rare today, and not a single one is entirely preserved with its original polychromy and in the context for which it was made. Most examples are found in Scandinavia, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula, which indicates that such shrines were a European phenomenon. This is confirmed by isolated survivals found in intermediate locations in France, Germany, and Slovakia. The similarities between these objects from the North, Center, and South of Europe enable us to follow their Europe-wide development. The one country that possesses by far the largest number of preserved tabernacle shrines is Sweden. This is why the present study refers to Swedish examples to identify European types. The first type is the 'Appuna-type' shrines, dating from c. 1200, that contain an early sculpture of the Sedes Sapientiae. The second group are shrines of the Fröskog-type, which are characterized by the presense of reliefs on the interiors of their wings. The third type, more vertical and of architectural character, is called the 'Kil-type' and had its largest spread during the fourteenth century.
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Introduction to a collection of essays on medieval tabernacle shrines from the 12th to the 14th century (see also under Edited Volumes: The Saint Enshrined).
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A study (in Norwegian) of the relic shrine from Filefjell (c. 1230) in the collection of the University Museum of Bergen and its remarkable iconography.
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Article (in German) on the exhibition "North and South. European Masterpieces Reunited" of high medieval art works from Norway and Catalonia shown in Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (the Netherlands), October 2019-January 2020.
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Article (in Dutch) in the historical journal Oud Utrecht on the occasion of the exhibition North & South. Medieval Art from Norway and Catalonia, 1100-1350, in Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (the Netherlands), October 2019-January 2020
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Article (in Norwegian) on how to use the collection of church art at the University Museum of Bergen in school teaching.
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Perhaps paradoxically, of all medieval churches in Europe, those that became Lutheran during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation possess the greatest wealth of medieval interior elements. Compared to Puritan Britain and the... more
Perhaps paradoxically, of all medieval churches in Europe, those that became Lutheran during the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation possess the greatest wealth of medieval interior elements. Compared to Puritan Britain and the Calvinist Low Countries, Lutheran churches were not as thoroughly stripped of their medieval furnishings, while on the other hand Baroque renewals were much less far-reaching here than in Catholic regions. Although Lutheranism in general exerted a preserving effect on medieval church interiors, there are important differences between regions , both within Germany and between Germany and Scandinavia (here to be understood as "the Nordic countries", i.e. including Finland and Iceland). This article makes a first attempt towards a comparison of the survival rates of medieval church furnishings in Lutheran Germany and the Eu-ropean North. Both regions are more or less on a par with regard to several specific elements including high altars and their decorations, triumphal arch crosses and baptismal fonts. However, other elements , such as tabernacles, choir stalls, chancel screens, pulpits and side altars are much more often preserved in Germany than in Scandinavia. It may be concluded, therefore, that the Reformation generally had further-reaching implications on the material culture of Nordic church buildings than on German ones.
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A study (in German) on early (high medieval) chancel screens and choir partitions in medieval churches in Germany and elsewhere.
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Report (in Norwegian) from a seminar held in and about the stave church at Røldal (Norway).
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Brief assessment of the collection of medieval church art at the University Museum of Bergen, published in Gesta by the International Center of Medieval Art.
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Article (in Dutch) on the transformation of medieval church interiors in the Netherlands through the Calvinist Reformation with special attention paid to aspects of continuity.
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Article (in Dutch) on the consequences and vestiges of Protestant iconoclasm in medieval church in the Dutch province of Friesland.
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Article (in Dutch) on the medieval baptismal font of the Bentheim type that was found buried inside the medieval church at Meeden (Groningen, the Netherlands) in 2013.
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A survey (in Dutch) of fifty years of research of research on historical churches and church interiors in the Netherlands (1965-2015), with a special focus on the work of Regnerus Steensma (1937-2012).
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Article (in Dutch) on medieval wall paintings in the churches of Drenthe (the Netherlands), both surviving and now vanished.
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Article (in Dutch) on representations of animals in the medieval churches of Frisia (the Netherlands) and their symbolism.
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Article (in Dutch) on the transformation of church interiors in the age of the Reformation in the Netherlands, when hundreds of medieval church buildings in the Netherlands were seized and appropriated by Calvinists. In some cases, this... more
Article (in Dutch) on the transformation of church interiors in the age of the Reformation in the Netherlands, when hundreds of medieval church buildings in the Netherlands were seized and appropriated by Calvinists. In some cases, this seizure was accompanied by a violent attack on the churches and their furniture, known as the Iconoclasm. This article aims at showing that alongside many changes there were also important continuities in the way churches were furnished and used for religious services. These continuities have traditionally been largely overlooked, as scholarship has focused on caesuras in theology, liturgy and mentality.
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It is the aim of this article to problematize the concept of the medieval altarpiece or retable. If handbook definitions of a formal nature are followed, many configurations which actually occur in medieval churches remain overlooked. In... more
It is the aim of this article to problematize the concept of the medieval altarpiece or retable. If handbook definitions of a formal nature are followed, many configurations which actually occur in medieval churches remain overlooked. In order to understand the pluriformity of medieval altar decorations, a functional definition seems more helpful, such as ‘any object or depiction on top of or behind the altar that forms a backdrop to liturgical activity on and around the altar’.
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Three short articles (in Dutch) on Protestant (PKN) church buildings and their history in Hoogeveen (Drenthe, the Netherlands), anno 2014. "Deel 1: De Grote Kerk", in Kerkentrommel, 19 (2014), pp. 8-9 "Deel 2: Tussen 1900 en 1965", in... more
Three short articles (in Dutch) on Protestant (PKN) church buildings and their history in Hoogeveen (Drenthe, the Netherlands), anno 2014.
"Deel 1: De Grote Kerk", in Kerkentrommel, 19 (2014), pp. 8-9
"Deel 2: Tussen 1900 en 1965", in Kerkentrommel, 20 (2014), pp. 8-9
"Deel 3: Vanaf 1965", in Kerkentrommel, 21 (2014), pp. 8-9
"Deel 1: De Grote Kerk", in Kerkentrommel, 19 (2014), pp. 8-9
"Deel 2: Tussen 1900 en 1965", in Kerkentrommel, 20 (2014), pp. 8-9
"Deel 3: Vanaf 1965", in Kerkentrommel, 21 (2014), pp. 8-9
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Article (in Romanian) on the pruriformity of medieval altar decorations, moving away from the traditional paradigm of the altarpiece as a recognizable object type, translation by Ciprian Firea of "'The Altar and its Decorations in... more
Article (in Romanian) on the pruriformity of medieval altar decorations, moving away from the traditional paradigm of the altarpiece as a recognizable object type, translation by Ciprian Firea of "'The Altar and its Decorations in Medieval Churches. A Functionalist Approach", in Medievalia. revista d'estudis medievals 17 (2014), pp. 153-183
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Article (in Dutch) on Communion practice in Protestant churches in Groningen in view of possible influences from East Frisia.
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Article (in Dutch) on the life and work of the seventeenth-century architect and son of a minister in Drenthe, Henrick Ruse.
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A short assessment (in Dutch) of the valuable ensemble of interior fittings in the parish church at Huizum (Friesland, the Netherlands) on the occasion of its transfer to the Stichting Alde Fryske Tsjerken.
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Article (in Dutch) based on a seminar with students at the University of Groningen developing future plans for historical churches in the province of Friesland.
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A brief article (in German) on the Renaissance tomb monument for Edo Wiemken the Younger in Jever (Frisia, Germany) and its connection to the Renaissance chancel gallery in the church of Easterein (Frisia, the Netherlands).
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A brief account (in Dutch) on the history of cooperation between the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken and the University of Groningen, particularly the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.
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Article (in Dutch) presenting the plans developed by students at the University of Groningen for the history of redundant churches in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland.
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Article (in Dutch) on tomb slabs and monuments found in churches in the Dutch province of Groningen that express the concept of death as sleep.
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Article (in Spanish) on side altars and the traces thereof in medieval country churches in Denmark
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Article (in Spanish) on medieval high altar decorations in the Romanesque style surviving in churches and museums in Denmark.
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This article (in Spanish) analyzes ciboria (canopies) and baldachins as means to emphasize the altar visually inside the medieval church. Contrary to the existing literature on the topic, attention is focused on their development and... more
This article (in Spanish) analyzes ciboria (canopies) and baldachins as means to emphasize the altar visually inside the medieval church. Contrary to the existing literature on the topic, attention is focused on their development and spread beyond the Italian sphere of influence, in order to demonstrate that the habit of covering the medieval altar was, in fact, a Europe-wide phenomenon. This article browses through all parts of Western Europe: after a brief look at Italy and Croatia, the medieval ciboria of the Iberian Peninsula are scrutinized, followed by France and the British Isles, Germany and bordering countries, and, finally, Scandinavia. The greatest number of medieval ciboria and baldachins outside Italy are found in Spain and Germany. A study of these often forgotten genres in Europe’s medieval art is very relevant in order to better
imagine the aspect of medieval church interiors.
imagine the aspect of medieval church interiors.
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The image of death as sleep seems to be of all times and places. While its origins go back to the pre-Christian period, it is still present in many modern obituaries. It lived on even in the Calvinist tradition, despite the fierce... more
The image of death as sleep seems to be of all times and places. While its origins go back to the pre-Christian period, it is still present in many modern obituaries. It lived on even in the Calvinist tradition, despite the fierce objections which Calvin himself made against it. Its attractiveness no doubt lies in its portrayal of death as a temporary state rather than something irreversible. This article (in Dutch) analyses how this idea has been expressed in words and images found on Protestant tombs and grave slabs in the Dutch province of Groningen from the late sixteenth to the early nineteenth century. These monuments show how the sleeping dead developed into a general idea and indeed a formula which followed its own dynamics, independent of doctrine.
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Article (in Dutch) presenting a reconstruction of the medieval church at Farmsum (Groningen, the Netherlands). A nineteenth-century drawing suggests that it may have been the first known hall church in the northern Netherlands.
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A study (in German) of Communion furnishings in the chancels of churches in the Dutch province of Groningen and their relationship to the churches of neighbouring East Frisia (Germany).
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Article (in Dutch) about the Dutch sculptor Mikkel van Groningen who was active in Denmark during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
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Short article (in Dutch) explaining the concept of an exhibition on Medieval church interiors in Groningen (the Netherlands) and East Frisia (Germany) held in museum Het Hoogeland in Warffum (the Netherlands) in 2012.
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A study of monastic heritage in the Dutch province of Groningen focusing on buildings, interior fittings and utensils (correction: other than is suggested here, the church at Termunten is not known to have been part of a medieval... more
A study of monastic heritage in the Dutch province of Groningen focusing on buildings, interior fittings and utensils (correction: other than is suggested here, the church at Termunten is not known to have been part of a medieval monastery).
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Article (in Dutch) on the furnishings of the church of St Ludger in Norden (East Frisia) and its vanished parallel in St Martin's in Groningen (the Netherlands).
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Article (in Dutch) on the cultural value of historical church interiors and its implications for their present-day use.
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Article (in Dutch) on the life and work of Dr Regnerus Steensma (1937-2012).
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Article (in German) describing eight characteristics of medieval church furnishings in East Frisia (Ostfriesland), Germany.
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The aim of this article (in Dutch) is to give an overview of Roman Catholic liturgical vessels in the province of Frisia (Friesland) in the period of the Protestant Dutch Republic, with special attention paid to their iconography.
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Article (in Dutch) about the trajectory of the sixteenth-century artist Hein(rich) Hagarth.
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Article (in Dutch) on the Dutch Protestant Church in charge of the largest corpus of religious heritage in the Netherlands.
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A series of comparative entries (in Dutch and German) on parallels found in the architecture, painted decoration, and furnishings of medieval churches in the Dutch province of Groningen and neighbouring German East Frisia.
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This article (in Dutch) analyses holes found at the altar of the medieval church in Norg (Drenthe) as possible vestiges of a so-called "retable with two spires".