Object of devotion

Williamson, Paul

During the late Middle Ages, English craftsmen, based mainly in the Midlands, carved finely decorated images from alabaster {u2013} a fine-grained form of gypsum {u2013} for display in churches, homes and private chapels. With essays by several leading scholars, this lavish publication accompanies a US touring exhibition of medieval English alabaster sculpture from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and offers an unrivalled glimpse into the spiritual lives, hopes, fears and religious aspirations of both aristocratic and non-aristocratic society during the Middle Ages. Since alabasters from England were sold across the Continent in considerable quantities, the catalogue sheds light on issues of spirituality, devotion and culture beyond the English Channel.