Image
© Hildesheim, St Godehard |
| Context: |
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| Iconography: |
The
Martyrdom of St Alban. On the left the judge stands holding the staff
of office in his hand. The executioner sheathes his sword while his
eyes drop out. As Alban falls, decapitated, his soul is rescued from
his mouth by an angel. On the right a man holds a signum
or standard on a long staff. Alban's soul, in the form of a dove,
is ushered to Christ and his angels in heaven. This is the earliest
surviving depiction of the Martyrdom, although more scenes from Alban's
life were probably shown on his gilded tomb, decorated with figures
in high relief and commissioned by Geoffrey (GA,81-3). Geoffrey
also commissioned a great hanging for the altar, showing the Invention
of St Alban (GA,94). The signum is similar to one
shown on the gravestone of Flavinus, now at Hexham Abbey (Phillips,
1977, pl.2; see Kjølbye-Biddle, 2001, 85-110). The earliest
text of St Alban's martyrdom, by Gildas, refers to 'the presence of
wicked men who displayed the Roman standards to the most horrid effect'
(see Sharpe, 2001, 31)
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| Art: |
This
page has been scored with lines for text. Under drawing visible by
the executioner's belt.
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| Thread
stitch: |
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| Historical
Relevance: |
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| Quire: |
24
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