Research Catalog

The funeral effigies of Westminster Abbey

Title: The funeral effigies of Westminster Abbey / edited by Anthony Harvey & Richard Mortimer.
Publication: Woodbridge [Eng.] ; Rochester, NY : Boydell Press, 1994.

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Request for On-site Use Request Scan How do I pick up this item and when will it be ready?	Text	Use in library	AA447 W5 F96	Off-site

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Description

201 pages, 17 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color); 29 cm

Summary

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.

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Bibliography (note)

ISBN

0851153682 :

LCCN

94021012

OCLC

Owning Institutions

Columbia University Libraries