Dr Jessica Barker, a specialist medieval art historian currently at the Courtauld Institute of Art, presented this week’s research lecture at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). Viewers were privileged to hear about her new research on Norwich Priory bosses – the decorative features found in the intersection of vaults and ceilings. Barker’s research focused on aspects of nature and chaos, and how they intertwined in art and unruliness at Norwich Priory. She selected a range of decorative bosses, firstly looking at the most frequently used East Walk where bosses depicted foliage, which she connected to the plant life in the Priory gardens noting the addition of a vineyard in the medieval period and local species of trees represented in the carvings.
The foliage bosses of the East felt harmonious to Barker, but the north cloister walls had entirely different depictions. Surprising and striking human, hybrid and monstrous faces jumped out from the architectural features in this part of the Priory. Here, the fusion of peaceful foliage with confronting faces and moments of struggle differed from alternative vantage points. Barker explained the need for a 360-degree close analysis in order to completely understand the nature of these bosses, expressing how the Norwich monks might have been uniquely suited to this long and contemplative task. It was interesting to hear her analysis on how these bosses may reflect on limited and mortal human perception that could never view the entire design at once – compared with the divine, all-encompassing perception of God.
Barker dedicated the final part of her lecture to the historical context of the Norwich Priory and its rebuilding following an unusual and brutal civil attack in 1272 that involved the murder of 13 monks and the looting, burning and destruction of the majority of the monastic buildings. She considered how the psychological trauma following this event was rebuilt into the structure and artistic decoration of the Priory buildings, evident in the Ethelbert Gate that separated the monastery and the town. Motifs of broken roots, fighting dragons, extensive vine foliage and lion imagery are all present on the Gate offering a potential connection to the Biblical story of Isaiah overthrowing Babylon which Barker suggested transformed a local conflict into an apocalyptic framework. The idea of evil being defeated but a hidden chaos lingering was additionally embedded in a section of bosses depicting figures (identifiable as townspeople) interchanging with foliage, offering a final insight into the juxtaposing disorder and harmony present in Norwich Priory. Once again, the ECA has made it possible for students to experience an insight into the world of academia and the ever-expanding field of Art History.
“Selby Abbey – June 2013 – Cheerful Gargoyle” by Gareth1953 All Right Now is licensed under CC BY 2.0.