Religious processions 1300–1500

religion, processions, parades, Palm Sunday, Christianity, Medieval, Renaissance, Europe, Austria, Thaur

  • Christ Riding on the Ass, about 1480

    Christ Riding on the Ass, about 1480, Museum no. A.1030-1910

    Christ Riding on the Ass
    Limewood and pine, painted and gilded
    Southern Germany
    About 1480
    Museum no. A.1030-1910
    Bequeathed by Captain H B Murray

    This popular type of sculpture known as 'Palmesel' or 'Palm Donkey', represented Christ during religious services around Easter. On Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, it was drawn through the streets to commemorate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

  • Pastoral Staff, about 1300

    Pastoral Staff, about 1300, Museum no. 604-1902

    Ivory and bone pastoral staff
    Northern Italy
    About 1300
    Museum no. 604-1902

    Together with the mitre and the pectoral cross, the pastoral staff or crosier is part of the insignia of a bishop and some abbots. Carried as a symbol of authority during Mass and religious processions, it looks like a shepherd's crook as a reminder of the bishop's role in looking after his 'flock'.

  • Cope, about 1330-1350

    Cope, about 1330-1350, Museum no. T.36-1955

    Cope
    Silk velvet
    Italy or Spain
    About 1330–50
    Museum no. T.36-1955

    The scenes on the back of this cope show the life of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by apostales and saints. The lavish embroidery made it fit for a high-ranking clergyman. The pearl, glass and metal details would have sparkled in the candlelight of the church or in a sunlit procession.

  • Lantern, about 1550

    Lantern, about 1550, Museum no. 469-1895

    Iron lantern
    France
    About 1550
    Museum no. 469-1895

    Lanterns were used for processions during the night of Maundy Thursday. In the Easter week this was the evening when Jesus held the Last Supper and was later arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Lanterns were also used in Passion plays to illuminate the moment of his arrest.

  • Cross, about 1500

    Cross, about 1500, Museum no. M.294-1956

    Partially guilded silver cross with enamel
    Spain, probably Burgos
    About 1500
    Museum no. M.294-1956
    Bequeathed by Dr W L Hildburgh FSA

    Crosses like this were often carried on poles at the head of a procession, followed by choirboys with censers. The figure of Christ usually faced forwards, unless a pope or bishop was walking behind, in which case it was reversed.

  • Chasuble, about 1400–30

    Chasuble, about 1400–30, Museum no. T.256-1967

    Silk chasuble embroidered with the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Erpingham on the back
    Silk patterned with metal and coloured silk threads: Italy
    Linen embroidery with silver and gilded silver threads: England
    About 1400–30
    Museum no. T.256-1967

    An East Anglian landowner and leading knight called Sir Thomas Erpingham commissioned this chasuble. It was probably worn by his personal chaplain or by a priest from a church with which he was associated.

  • Chasuble, about 1600

    Chasuble, about 1600, Museum no. 697-1902

    Silk velvet chasuble
    Silk velvet: Italy or Spain, about 1600
    Silk, metal thread and sequin embroidery: England, probably 1533
    Museum no. 697-1902

    This chasuble was recycled from a pall, a rectangular cloth that covered a coffin in funeral processions. The sombre colours related to death. The pall was made for Robert Thornton, 22nd Abbot of Jervaulx in 1510–33, and on the back are his initials.

  • Processional banner, about 1370

    Processional banner, about 1370, Museum no. 781-1894

    Processional banner
    Painted by Barnaba da Modena (active about 1367–89)
    Tempera and gilding on canvas
    Genoa, Italy
    About 1370
    Museum no. 781-1894

    This banner belonged to a flagellant confraternity, a lay organisation that tended the sick and buried the dead. Members of these confraternities whipped themselves in public to express remorse for their sins. the flagellants, shown kneeling on the reverse of the banner, have holes in their robes to allow this.