Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 25 January 2013

The Conversion of St Paul


Here, to mark today's feast of the Conversion of St Paul, and thanks to John Dillon's post on the Medieval Religion discussion group, are two views of  Ananias baptising St Paul as depicted in the wonderful mid- to slightly later twelfth-century mosaics of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo. The standard depiction of St Paul with a balding head and pointed beard was clearly well established:

http://www.medioevo.org/artemedievale/Images/Sicilia/CappellaPalatina/CappellaPalatina08.jpg

Image: John Dillon

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Image: heffelumpen9 on Flickr 


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