The Cosmatesque Mosaics of Westminster Abbey: The Pavements and Royal Tombs: History, Archaeology, Architecture and Conservation (en Inglés)
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Westminster Abbey contains the only surviving medieval Cosmatesque mosaics outside Italy. They comprise: the ‘Great Pavement’ in the sanctuary; the pavement around the shrine of Edward the Confessor; the saint’s tomb and shrine; Henry III’s tomb; the tomb of a royal child, and some other pieces. Surprisingly, the mosaics have never before received detailed recording and analysis, either individually or as an assemblage. The proposed publication, in two volumes, will present a holistic study of this outstanding group of monuments in their historical architectural and archaeological context.The shrine of St Edward is a remarkable survival, having been dismantled at the Dissolution and re-erected (incorrectly) in 1557 under Queen Mary. Large areas of missing mosaic were replaced with plaster on to which mosaic designs were carefully painted. This 16th-century fictive mosaic is unique in Britain. Conservation of the sanctuary pavement was accompanied by full archaeological recording with every piece of mosaic decoration drawn and colored by David Neal, phase plans have been prepared, and stone-by-stone examination undertaken, petrologically identifying and recording the locations of all the materials present. It has revealed that both the pavements and tombs include a range of exotic stone types. The Cosmati study has shed fresh light on every aspect of the unique series of monuments in Westminster Abbey; this work will fill a major lacuna in our knowledge of 13th-century English art of the first rank, and will command international interest.Table of ContentsThe PavementsList of figuresForeword by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of WestminsterPreface AcknowledgementsSummary1. The cosmatesque pavements and monuments: introduction and context Historical and architectural contextThe mosaic assemblage 2. Historiography and the antiquarian record Early references, 1269–c. 1700 Descriptions and illustrations of the pavements and monuments, 1707–1925 The pavements and monuments in recent scholarship3. The sanctuary and high altar pavements: past interventions, damage and repair Paving the sanctuary: an historical overview The cosmatesque sanctuary pavement Installation of the Whitehall altarpiece, 1706–07 Sir George Gilbert Scott’s restoration of the sanctuary, 1859–71 4. Description of the sanctuary pavement Purbeck marble matrixDetailed description of the decorationThe frame inscriptions Early repairs to the Cosmati pavement by Paul Drury Phasing: construction, alteration and repair 5. Surveying, analyzing and evaluating the sanctuary and high altar pavements Preparatory studies Condition and conservation trials, 1993–98 by Vanessa Simeoni Ground-penetrating radar surveys, 2004-05 by Erica Carrick Utsi The archaeology beneath the pavements: an assessment 6. Conservation and repair of the sanctuary pavement by Vanessa Simeoni Introduction Recording and the sanctuary pavement archiveMaterials in the pavement Cleaning Laser cleaning Removal of cement patchingPurbeck marble: deterioration and treatment Stone tesserae: damage and treatmentGlass tesseraeRestoration of the western border panel Case study: the central medallion Surface finish Conclusions and post-conservation care 7. St Edward the Confessor’s chapel pavement Past interventions and damageThe Purbeck marble matrixDetailed description of the pavement Ground-penetrating radar surveys of the high altar and St Edward’s chapel pavements, 2005 by Erica Carrick UtsiThe archaeology beneath the chapel floor8. Materials employed in the pavements and monuments Antiquarian petrologyThe stone types by Kevin HaywardGlass: analysis of samples from the sanctuary pavement by Ian Freestone Metals employed in the pavements and monumentsAnalysis of ‘mastic’ resin on the sanctuary pavement by Ruth SiddallAnalysis of the paste-inlaid tesserae by Ruth SiddallMortars used in the sanctuary pavement by Ruth Siddall Notes to chapters 1 to 8Plans 1 and 2 (fold-outs at end of volume)VOLUME 2The Monuments9. St Edward’s chapel and the context of the shrineIntroduction Chronology of St Edward’s enshrinement Evolving topography of St Edward’s chapelMonuments in the chapel: post-medieval interventions and antiquarian investigationsImpact of pilgrims and tourists on the chapel and its monuments10. The shrine-tomb of St Edward the Confessor, I: description and primary fabricIntroduction General description of the shrine-tomb Detailed descriptions of the components Reconstructing the original form of the shrine-tomb Method of construction and assemblyThe primary inscription: an assessment11. The shrine-tomb of St Edward the Confessor, II: Tudor reconstruction and overall assessmentThe feretory canopy (co-operculum)Shrine of St Edward: historical context of its Tudor reconstructionAbbot Feckenham’s reconstruction of the shrine pedestal and altar, 1557 Accident and intervention, 1685-86 St Edward’s coffins Concluding assessment12. Tomb of King Henry III Introduction and antiquarian descriptionsArchitectural form of the tombDetailed description of the mosaic decoration Later interventions13. Child’s tomb in the south ambulatory Identity of the tomb and its occupants Date and primary location of the tomb Relocation of the tomb in the south ambulatory The tomb-chest Detailed description of the decoration Discussion14. Related monumentsSt Edward’s shrine altarDetached architectural fragmentsThe high altar and the Westminster RetableThe de Valence tombsInscription fragment in the floor of St Edward’s chapel15. The Westminster mosaic assemblage: summary, assessment and datingLuxury paving and mosaic decoration: Westminster in context The sanctuary and its pavements St Edward the Confessor’s chapel and its pavement St Edward’s shrine-tomb and altar Henry III and his shrine-tomb Other tombs Chronology of the Westminster Cosmati episodeAppendices1. The shrine of Edward the Confessor in the records by Matthew Payne Archival references Chronicles2. Quantification of tesserae in the mosaic pavements and monumentsNotes to chapters 9 to 16Plan 3 (fold-out at end of volume)Abbreviations and bibliographyIndex
