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IV.—A Thirteenth-Century Choir of Angels in the North Transept of Westminster Abbey and the Adjacent Figures of Two Kings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2011

C.J.P. Cave  and
L.E. Tanner
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Extract

On the soffits of the lancet windows in the north transept of Westminster Abbey there are medallions, four in each window, enclosing demi-figures of angels which bear musical instruments and other objects. The date is about 1250. It is impossible to see these carvings in the ordinary way as the soffits receive no light from the windows and they are about 58 ft. above the floor level. After dark when the Abbey is lit up it is just possible to see that there are carvings, but details are not visible. A spot light is required to see the figures properly and to enable them to be photographed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Archaeologia , Volume 84 , 1935 , pp. 63 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1935

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References

page 63 note 1 History and Antiquities of the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, ii, 29.

page 63 note 2 Loc. cit., Pl. xlix.

page 63 note 3 Loc. cit., ii, 147, footnote.

page 63 note 4 Westminster Abbey Re-examined, p. 188.

page 63 note 5 In November 1934 a scaffold was erected to clean the lancet windows and we were able to view these figures at close quarters.

page 64 note 1 p. 45.

page 64 note 2 History of the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster, ii, 23.

page 64 note 3 Loc. cit., p. 189.

page 65 note 1 Neale and Brayley probably mistook part of the wing of the angel for the round object.

page 65 note 2 Neale and Brayley apparently mistook the top of the wing and a portion of the dress for a musical instrument.

page 66 note 1 Neale and Brayley have transposed nos. 15 and 16.

page 66 note 2 For these details we are indebted to Mr. William Bentley.

page 67 note 1 ii, 147.

page 67 note 2 p. 45.

page 67 note 3 Westminster Abbey Re-examined, p. 190.

page 67 note 4 p. 147.