Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
ShareThis
Javascript must be enabled to continue!

Flight into Egypt, and Massacre of the Innocents, in The Winchester Psalter

View through Europeana Collections
Traditionally called the 'St Swithun Psalter' because it contains a prayer to the saint, this psalter's origins can be placed at Winchester, probably at the Cathedral Priory, which is dedicated to him. It is beautifully illustrated with a series of full-page tinted drawings which probably reflect the tastes and high social status of Hugh of Blois, Bishop of Winchester (1129-1171), patron of the arts, and brother of King Stephen. Hugh had been a monk at Cluny where sumptuous visual art abounded. The psalter, though, was made in England, having some details which relate back to 11th Anglo-Saxon manuscripts. Hugh of Blois may have used it as a prayerbook either privately or during the daily monastic prayers called the divine office. The full-page pictures are framed with patterned borders, sometimes shaded to look three-dimensional, and usually are divided into two or more panels, each of which in turn has one or more scenes. Here at the top, Jesus, Mary and Joseph are escorted by an angel who wafts incense as they flee to Egypt. Below, Herod commands his depraved solders to massacre the innocent first-born. Although written before the birth of Jesus, the psalms were illustrated as prophecies of Christ and Christianity.
Title: Flight into Egypt, and Massacre of the Innocents, in The Winchester Psalter
Description:
Traditionally called the 'St Swithun Psalter' because it contains a prayer to the saint, this psalter's origins can be placed at Winchester, probably at the Cathedral Priory, which is dedicated to him.
It is beautifully illustrated with a series of full-page tinted drawings which probably reflect the tastes and high social status of Hugh of Blois, Bishop of Winchester (1129-1171), patron of the arts, and brother of King Stephen.
Hugh had been a monk at Cluny where sumptuous visual art abounded.
The psalter, though, was made in England, having some details which relate back to 11th Anglo-Saxon manuscripts.
Hugh of Blois may have used it as a prayerbook either privately or during the daily monastic prayers called the divine office.
The full-page pictures are framed with patterned borders, sometimes shaded to look three-dimensional, and usually are divided into two or more panels, each of which in turn has one or more scenes.
Here at the top, Jesus, Mary and Joseph are escorted by an angel who wafts incense as they flee to Egypt.
Below, Herod commands his depraved solders to massacre the innocent first-born.
Although written before the birth of Jesus, the psalms were illustrated as prophecies of Christ and Christianity.

Related Results

Crucifixion, The Arundel Psalter f.52v
Crucifixion, The Arundel Psalter f.52v
Probably made at Winchester, although it is not certain by or for which religious house there, the Arundel Psalter seems to have been a personal prayerbook. Throughout the middle a...
The Return from the Flight into Egypt
The Return from the Flight into Egypt
This painting is based on an engraving made by the Flemish artist Vosterman, after Rubens' work 'The Return from the Flight into Egypt'. It shows Mary, Joseph, and child Jesus retu...
October, in the Huth Psalter
October, in the Huth Psalter
Named for its donor, the Huth Psalter reveals its origin by listing in its calendar of feasts and litany Saints Hugh, Wilfrid, and John of Beverly?all associated with Lincoln or Yo...

Back to Top