The Altenberg Retable is one of the most important works of German art from the early 14th century. Composed of a shrine, a Madonna figure, and painted wings, it once adorned the high altar of the convent church in Altenberg/Lahn. The side and rear walls of the shrine were overpainted in 1609. Although conventional methods such as infrared reflectography and X‐ray radiography could not reveal the underlying medieval paint layer, we succeeded by conducting μ‐X‐Ray fluorescent studies. The latter measurements included a handheld spectrometer as well as μ‐X‐Ray fluorescent large area scanner. Nine sections of the side and rear walls were examined as well as a field on one of the wings (as a reference). In each section, spectra were recorded that comprised about 20 elements ranging from K to Bi. Maps of Ca, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Hg, and Pb were evaluated and interpreted on the basis of the results of prior color sampling analysis. By superposing several element maps, the original medieval iconographic program with its rows of standing saints could be revealed. With the help of iconographic comparison, these saints could be identified: St. Christopher in the central part of the rear wall, flanked by the 4 female saints Clare, Agnes, Dorothy, and Barbara. On the side walls, the apostles Peter and Paul, as well as the deacons Stephen and Lawrence were depicted. Discussed are not only different scenarios of usage for these images behind the altar but also the limits and possibilities of the measurement technology in this specific application.
A book cover encloses the manuscript inside. If it is elaborate, it distinguishes the manuscript as a precious and valuable object (as a frame does for a painting), all the more so when an old manuscript is clothed in a new and costly cover. In conjunction with added texts and other traces of use, one can grasp from this ‘reframing’ a shift of a text’s meaning. This is especially true of Gospel Books, which were handled as symbols of God in liturgical contexts. From the High Middle Ages on, treasure inventories and oath formulae were added to Gospel Books. They indicate the importance of an old Gospel Book for the religious community as a material proof of the age and rank of their church. Gospel Book covers from the High and Late Middle Ages demonstrate this by using spolia, old-fashioned forms and material, or invoking venerated founders. Often shaped as pendants, they seem to be arranged for display.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.