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Art for the Christian Liturgy in the Middle Ages

• 
  Polycandelon with Crosses, 500–600
  Byzantine
  Copper alloy; Diam. 10 1/2 in. (26.5 cm)
  Gift of Mrs. Miriam N. Rosen, 2002 (2002.483.7)
  
• 
  The Attarouthi Treasure, 500–650
  Byzantine; From Attarouthi, Syria
  Silver and silver with gilding; varying dimensions
  Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Henry J. and Drue E. Heinz Foundation, Norbert Schimmel and Lila Acheson Wallace Gifts, 1986 (1986.3.1–15)
  
• 
  Pyxis Depicting Women at the Tomb of Christ, 500s
  Byzantine; Made in the eastern Mediterranean
  Ivory; 33 x 35 in. (83.8 x 88.9 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.57)
  
• 
  Situla (Bucket for Holy Water), ca. 860–880
  Carolingian; From the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Crannenburg, Germany, possibly made in Reims, northern France
  Ivory with copper alloy gilt mounts and inlays; 8 1/2 x 5 1/8 in. (21.6 x 13 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.45)
  
• 
  Book Cover with Byzantine Icon of the Crucifixion, Icon carved about 1000, in Constantinople; setting made before 1085
  Spanish; From the Convent of Santa Cruz de la Serós, Jaca
  Gilded silver on a wood backing, inset with ivory icon, sapphire, glass, and crystal; 10 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (26 x 19.1 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.134)
  
• 

  Processional Cross, ca. 1000–1050
  Byzantine
  Silver with gilding and gilded silver medallions; 23 5/8 x 17 3/4 in. (60 x 45.1 cm)
  Rogers Fund, 1993 (1993.163)

• 
  Processional Cross, late 11th–early 12th century
  Spanish; Made in Asturias
  Silver, partially gilt on wood core, carved gems, jewels; 23 1/4 x 19 in. (59.1 x 48.3 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.1406)
  
• 

  Tip of a Pointer, late 11th–first half of 12th century
  Byzantine (Constantinople)
  Cloisonné enamel, gold; H. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
  Purchase, Louis V. Bell Fund and Henry G. Keasbey Bequest, 1997 (1997.235)

• 
  The Cloisters Cross, 12th century
  English
  Walrus ivory; 22 5/8 x 14 1/4 in. (57.5 x 36.2 cm)
  The Cloisters Collection, 1963 (63.12)
  
• 

  Segment of a Crosier Shaft, late 12th century
  North Spain
  Elephant ivory; H. 11 5/16 in. (28.7 cm), D. 1 in. (2.5 cm), Diam. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
  The Cloisters Collection, 1981 (1981.1)

• 

  Jaharis Lectionary, ca. 1100
  Byzantine (Constantinople)
  Tempera, ink, and gold leaf on parchment, leather binding; 14 1/2 x 11 5/8 x 4 7/8 in. (36.8 x 29.6 x 12.4 cm)
  Purchase, Mary and Michael Jaharis Gift and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2007 (2007.286)

• 
  Stole with Images of the Martyrdom of Saint Catherine, ca. 1200
  German (Rhineland) or English
  Red silk, linen underlay, crimson silk tabby, metal threads (strips of gold and silver leaf wrapped on linen thread); 7 7/8 x 19 1/4 in. (19.7 x 48.9 cm)
  Gift of Irwin Untermeyer, 1964 (64.101.1382)
  
• 
  Liturgical Comb, ca. 1200–1210
  English
  Ivory; 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 in. (8.6 x 8.6 cm)
  Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Schimmel Foundation Inc., Mrs. Maxime L. Hermanos, Lila Acheson Wallace, Nathaniel Spear Jr., Mrs. Katherine S. Rorimer, William Kelly Simpson, Alastair B. Martin, and Anonymous Gifts, 1988 (1988.279)
  
• 
  Chalice, ca. 1222
  Brother Bertinus
  Made in possible Meuse Valley, Northern Europe
  Silver and silver gilt; 7 ½ x 5 3/8 in. (19.1 x 13.7 cm)
  The Cloisters Collection, 1947 (47.101.30)
• 
  Crozier with Serpent Devouring a Flower, ca. 1200–1220
  French, made in Limoges
  Gilded copper; champlevé enamel; glass cabochons; H. 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.833)
  
• 
  Chrismatory, ca. 1200–1220
  Limoges
  Copper: engraved, chased, and gilt; champlevé enamel: lapis and lavender blue, turquoise, light and dark green, red, and white; 3 7/8 [3 5/8 without feet] x 5 5/8 x 3 3/4 in. (9.9 [8.6] x 14.2 x 9.6 cm)
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.853)
  
• 
  Evangelists Mark and Luke, ca. 1220–30
  France (Limoges)
  Gilt copper and glass; Mark (left): h. 6 7/8 in. (17.4 cm), Luke (right): h. 6/2 in. (16.5 cm)
  Purchase, The Cloisters Collection, Michel David-Weill Gift, and Gifts of J. Pierpont Morgan and George Blumenthal, by exchange, 2012 (2010.70.1, 2)
• 
  Chalice, Paten, and Straw, ca. 1230–1250
  German
  Silver, partly gilded; niello, jewels; H. of chalice 8 in. (20.3 cm), Diam. of paten 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm), L. of straw 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
  The Cloisters Collection, 1947 (47.101.26–29)
  
• 
  Leaf from a Missal, ca. 1290
  Northeast French; Beauvais (?)
  Tempera and gold leaf, on parchment; 11 3/8 x 7 1/4 in. (28.9 x 18.4 cm)
  Gift of Mrs. Karen Gutmann, in memory of Harry Bober, 1992 (1992.238)
  
• 
  Chasuble, ca. 1330–1350
  English
  Silk and silver-gilt thread and colored silks in underside couching, split stitch, laid-and-couched work, and raised work, with pearls on velvet; 51 x 30 in. (129.5 x 76.2 cm)
  Fletcher Fund, 1927 (27.162.1)
  
• 

  Chalice of Peter of Sassoferrato, 1341–42 with later, perhaps 15th-century, cup
  Italian; Siena, from the Franciscan Church of Sassoferrato
  Silver gilded and translucent enamel; H. 8 7/16 in. (21.7 cm), Diam. of base 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm)
  Inscribed (on the stem above the knop): + FRA/T(R)IS P/ETRI PENIT/ENTI/ARII + DOMI/NI PA/PE ("of Brother Peter Penitentiary of the Lord Pope"); (on the stem below the knop) + LOCI SAS/SIFERATI/NON VEN/DATVR/NEC DI/STRATVR ("of the place of Sassoferrato neither sell nor destroy")
  The Cloisters Collection, 1988 (1988.67)

• 
  Chalice, ca. 1380
  Spanish; Catalonia, Barcelona
  Silver, silver gilt, and translucent enamel; H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
  The Cloisters Collection, 1988 (1988.66)
  

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The term liturgy refers to the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the Eastern and Western Church for communal worship. The central focus of the liturgy is the Eucharist, in which Christians take consecrated wine and bread in commemoration of the Last Supper and Christ's death. While liturgical practices were codified gradually over several centuries and varied locally, eucharistic vessels for the bread and wine, the paten, and the chalice remained indispensable (1986.3.1-15; 47.101.26-29). The liturgy in both the Eastern and Western Church necessitated a variety of additional objects such as books, often richly decorated (17.190.134), for prayers, music, and Old and New Testament readings (1992.238); crosses for the altar and to be carried in procession (63.12; 1993.163); censers for the burning of incense; and lighting devices for the sanctuary (2002.483.7).

Because of their sacred function, liturgical objects were often crafted of the most precious materials.

Related

Timelines (12)

• Balkan Peninsula, 1000–1400 a.d.
• Balkan Peninsula, 500–1000 a.d.
• Central Europe (including Germany), 1000–1400 a.d.
• Central Europe (including Germany), 500–1000 a.d.
• Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 1000–1400 a.d.
• Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, 500–1000 a.d.
• France, 1000–1400 a.d.
• France, 500–1000 a.d.
• Great Britain and Ireland, 1000–1400 a.d.
• Great Britain and Ireland, 500–1000 a.d.
• Iberian Peninsula, 1000–1400 a.d.
• Iberian Peninsula, 500–1000 a.d.

Primary Thematic Essays (7)

• Art and Death in the Middle Ages
• Monasticism in Western Medieval Europe
• Pilgrimage in Medieval Europe
• Private Devotion in Medieval Christianity
• Relics and Reliquaries in Medieval Christianity
• The Art of the Book in the Middle Ages
• The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages

Other Thematic Essays (30)

• Art and Death in Medieval Byzantium
• Birth and Family in the Italian Renaissance
• Byzantine Art under Islam
• Byzantine Ivories
• Byzantium (ca. 330–1453)
• Carolingian Art
• Classical Antiquity in the Middle Ages
• Gothic Art
• Hagia Sophia, 532–37
• Icons and Iconoclasm in Byzantium
• Italian Renaissance Frames
• Jews and the Arts in Medieval Europe
• Late Medieval German Sculpture: Images for the Cult and for Private Devotion
• Life of Jesus of Nazareth
• List of Rulers of Europe
• Manuscript Illumination in Italy, 1400–1600
• Medieval Aquamanilia
• Mendicant Orders in the Medieval World
• Ottonian Art
• Painting in Italian Choir Books, 1300–1500
• Painting the Life of Christ in Medieval and Renaissance Italy
• Patronage of Jean de Berry (1340
• Popular Religion: Magical Uses of Imagery in Byzantine Art
• Romanesque Art
• Saints and Other Sacred Byzantine Figures
• The Birth and Infancy of Christ in Italian Painting
• The Byzantine State under Justinian I (Justinian the Great)
• The Crucifixion and Passion of Christ in Italian Painting
• The Ghent Altarpiece
• The Master of Monte Oliveto (active about 1305

Maps (4)

• Europe, 1000-1400 A.D.
• Europe, 500-1000 A.D.
• World, 1000-1400 A.D.
• World, 500-1000 A.D.

Index Terms (25)

Art Movement/Style

• Byzantine Art from Europe
• Byzantine Art from West Asia

Geography/Place

• Byzantium
• European Medieval Art
• Byzantium

Material and Technique

• Glass from Europe
• Ivory from Europe
• Gilt Copper
• Gilt Silver
• Gold Leaf
• Gold from Europe
• Gold from West Asia
• Textile in Velvet

Object

• Book Manuscript
• Accessories for Clothing

Subject Matter/Theme

• Madonna and Child
• Christ
• Saint from Central Europe (including Germany)
• Liturgical Books
• Mourning
• Christian Book
• Cross
• Christian Sculpture in the Round
• Christian Textile
• Christian Vessel

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Because of their sacred function, liturgical objects were often crafted of the most precious materials. In a written account of Justinian's famed sixth-century church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, one author tells of hundreds of vessels and furnishings made of pure gold with pearls and precious stones. Emulating the splendors of Byzantium in his lavish commissions for the royal abbey church of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Abbot Suger exclaimed in the 1140s:

If golden pouring vessels, golden vials, golden little mortars used to serve … to collect the blood of goats or calves, how much more must golden vessels, precious stones, and whatever is most valued … be laid out … for the reception of the blood of Christ! Surely, neither we nor our possessions suffice for this service.

Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Citation Department of Medieval Art. "Art for the Christian Liturgy in the Middle Ages". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/litu/hd_litu.htm (October 2001) Further Reading Lasko, Peter Ars Sacra, 800–1200. 2d ed.. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994. McLachlan, Elizabeth Parker "Liturgical Vessels and Implements." In The Liturgy of the Medieval Church, edited by Thomas J. Heffernan and E. Ann Matter, pp. 369–429.. Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 2001. Related exhibitions and online features Special Exhibitions (including upcoming, current, and past exhibitions)

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