Name/Title
The funeral effigies of Westminster AbbeyEntry/Object ID
GT730.F86Description
"Westminster Abbey contains a unique and important group of effigies, some familiar, many less so, including kings, queens and national heroes, and ranging in time from the middle ages to the early 19th century. This richly illustrated book is both a history of the collection and of the origins and development of the funeral effigy, and a full descriptive catalogue of the twenty-one effigies in the Abbey. For the first time, both the medieval wooden effigies and the later wax figures with contemporary clothing are considered together." "The death mask of Edward III dates back to the beginnings of portraiture in medieval Europe; other fine examples include representations of Henry VII, Charles II, Pitt and Nelson. The collection is also remarkable for its rare historical costumes, including Charles II's Garter robes, Nelson's hat, extraordinary Georgian paste jewellery, rare early silks and shoes, and probably the oldest stuffed bird in England. In the first substantial publication on the collection since 1936, some objects are catalogued for the first time since their restoration after damage in the Second World War; an account of this restoration is included in the catalogue, which also contains a full treatment of the significance of each effigy in royal funeral ceremonial and in the history of art." -- BOOK JACKETAcquisition
Source (if not Accessioned)
Carolyn HahnNotes
Gift of Carolyn Hahn, August 2022.Lexicon
Search Terms
costume--england--history, funeral rites and ceremonies--england, portraits--great britainBook Details
Editor
Anthony Harvey, Richard MortimerPublisher
Boydell PressPlace Published
Location
Woodbridge, EnglandCity
Rochester, NYDate Published
1994ISBN
0851153682Notes
Length: 201