Speculum humanae salvationis in the monumental painting of East Prussia: visual intertextuality

M. A. Rogov

doi:10.28995/2686-7249-2023-1-210-227

Speculum humanae salvationis in the monumental painting of East Prussia: visual intertextuality

M. A. Rogov

https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-1-210-227

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Abstract

This research is dedicated to two rare cycles of monumental painting from the second half of the 14th century, in the interior of Königsberg (Kaliningrad) Cathedral and St. Catherine’s Church in Arnau (Rodniki, Kaliningrad region). Although these monuments are almost completely lost, their reconstruction based on available photo documents, sketches, and descriptions carries a special value towards understanding the visual intertextuality of the Speculum humanae salvationis iconographic program in the symbolic context of the architectural space of the two churches. Contrary to the monumental cycles of Europe sharing this iconography, here in these two the zoning of space for knights and townspeople plays an important role. The study concludes that the manuscript miniatures from Wolfenbüttel HAB 2805 and the East Prussian mural cycles have a common protograph of the “Italian” or “mixed” type in an abbreviated edition (“Cologne group”), which can be traced back to an earlier prototgraph (of the “Italian” type), used in the Darmstadt Codex Hs. 2505. The interest of the patrons in the iconographic program, which preaches the dignity of the priesthood, could be associated with the relationship between the clergy of the Samland diocese and the Teutonic Knights engaged in northern crusades.

Keywords

iconography, visual intertextuality, Speculum humanae salvationis, Königsberg Cathedral, Arnau, Teutonic Order,

About the Author

M. A. Rogov

The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Russian Federation

Mikhail A. Rogov, Cand. of Sci. (Art History), Cand. of Sci. (Economics), associate professors

bld. 84, Vernadske Av., Moscow, 119571

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Supplementary files

For citation: Rogov M.A. Speculum humanae salvationis in the monumental painting of East Prussia: visual intertextuality. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2023;(1(2)):210-227. https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-1-210-227

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