3.1.4. EUROPEAN KINGS' SIMILAR CONSTRAINTS

THEY TOO MAKE RICHES CIRCULATE AND THEY TOO ARE KEPT IN CHECK

Remember the African kings

Pinterest

In Europe, royal "Joyous entries" are symbols of permanence and images of kings are static: Crowns and heavy robes keep them from moving and holding emblems of power prevents using their hands.

Toledo Cathedral, 1220-1240 / zoom

God measuring cosmos and earth using a compass 

            France's Louis IX (Saint Louis), manuscript, 1283 / zoom      England's Richard II, coronation portrait (1377) / zoom

 

   Illuminated manuscript, end 13th century / zoom

Pontius Pilate and Jesus, Castille

 Zoom

Westphalia, 15th century

Altarpiece of Ghent by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, 1532 / zoom

Venice, 16th century

Ramsay Casadesus Rawson

The static image is universal:

 Zoom

Assyrian king Sennacherib, toward 700 BC

By Tom Tomorrow

*    *

The growing economy brings change: In early 16th-century Flanders kings are still immobile and still wear a heavy crown or cumbersome hat. But faces are more expressive and one hand is free. 

 

God the Father Blessing between Two Angels by Gérard David, 1506 / zoom

Moses and Aaron before the Pharaoh, Flanders, toward 1620 / zoom

More here.

*      *     *

Next,

3.1.5.

Detour:

 Images of Christ go from shepherd to warrior to king