Sophie Kelly
@sophiekelly59.bsky.social
Lecturer in History of Art at the University of Bristol; medievalist. Background in museums (British Museum, Royal Collection, Canterbury Cathedral). I run (slowly) 🏃♀️
Interested in #heritage & #medieval #architecture? Do think about coming along to the next British Archaeological Association study day, where we’ll be hearing about the project ‘Centring the Past: The People & Skills in Making Medieval English Vaults’ & exploring Chester Cathedral #medievalsky 👇
September 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Interested in #heritage & #medieval #architecture? Do think about coming along to the next British Archaeological Association study day, where we’ll be hearing about the project ‘Centring the Past: The People & Skills in Making Medieval English Vaults’ & exploring Chester Cathedral #medievalsky 👇
I have a new article in this latest issue of Manuscript Studies on early diagrams of the Shield of Faith (like this one!👇) It’s an adaption of some of my thesis ideas & was a pleasure to write. Huge thanks to the editorial team @sims-mss.bsky.social for their help in getting it to press #medievalsky
July 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I have a new article in this latest issue of Manuscript Studies on early diagrams of the Shield of Faith (like this one!👇) It’s an adaption of some of my thesis ideas & was a pleasure to write. Huge thanks to the editorial team @sims-mss.bsky.social for their help in getting it to press #medievalsky
The next British Archaeological Association Study Day is taking place in Coventry, where we’ll be looking at the results of some new infra-red surveys on the Guildhall’s Flemish tapestry & exploring Coventry’s other medieval riches (stained glass, Doom paintings, wooden sculpture). Come along!
January 30, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The next British Archaeological Association Study Day is taking place in Coventry, where we’ll be looking at the results of some new infra-red surveys on the Guildhall’s Flemish tapestry & exploring Coventry’s other medieval riches (stained glass, Doom paintings, wooden sculpture). Come along!
So glad this vid is doing the rounds again cause it’s one of the greatest things ever filmed, but also because I’ve never fully appreciated LL Cool J’s reactions - absolutely in awe of Tom Holland, as we all were in 2017 (and continue to be)
January 6, 2025 at 11:16 PM
So glad this vid is doing the rounds again cause it’s one of the greatest things ever filmed, but also because I’ve never fully appreciated LL Cool J’s reactions - absolutely in awe of Tom Holland, as we all were in 2017 (and continue to be)
A crucifix I stumbled upon in the Musée d’art in Perpignan last week, beautifully displayed so I could get right up close. I think these might be real nails? In any case, a superb, lifelike and slightly frightening Christ, from the Chapelle de la Trinité in Prunet-et-Belpuig in the Pyrenees, 14thC
December 3, 2024 at 1:46 PM
A crucifix I stumbled upon in the Musée d’art in Perpignan last week, beautifully displayed so I could get right up close. I think these might be real nails? In any case, a superb, lifelike and slightly frightening Christ, from the Chapelle de la Trinité in Prunet-et-Belpuig in the Pyrenees, 14thC
And finally (little undergraduate me would have been excited about this) - the records of confessions made before the inquisitors Ferrier and Gary; Bernard le Caux and Jean de St-Pierre; and Nicholas d’Abbeville & Bernard de Castenet; and finally the inquisitor’s manual by Bernard Gui
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 25, 2024 at 3:57 PM
And finally (little undergraduate me would have been excited about this) - the records of confessions made before the inquisitors Ferrier and Gary; Bernard le Caux and Jean de St-Pierre; and Nicholas d’Abbeville & Bernard de Castenet; and finally the inquisitor’s manual by Bernard Gui
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
(and also)… This totally gorgeous enamel morse (early 14thC) with a scene of the Visitation; a 13thC mitre from the Abbey of San Victorián; the reliquary of Saint-Sernin, with poor old St Sernin being dragged down the Rue du Tour by a bull 🐂
November 25, 2024 at 3:44 PM
(and also)… This totally gorgeous enamel morse (early 14thC) with a scene of the Visitation; a 13thC mitre from the Abbey of San Victorián; the reliquary of Saint-Sernin, with poor old St Sernin being dragged down the Rue du Tour by a bull 🐂
Other lovely things in the show: the seal matrix of Jean le Picard, a roofer (with the sign of his profession, a trowel!)- Jean was one of many builders brought down from northern France to construct castles/fortifications in the south (his matrix was found in Termes, near Narbonne)
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 25, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Other lovely things in the show: the seal matrix of Jean le Picard, a roofer (with the sign of his profession, a trowel!)- Jean was one of many builders brought down from northern France to construct castles/fortifications in the south (his matrix was found in Termes, near Narbonne)
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Super interesting in this context is the reliquary of St Exupère. Exupère is the protector saint of Toulouse & his relics were displayed in the church of St Sernin during a siege on the city in 1217-8. The reliquary, which shows Exupère blessing the city gates, was made after the Toulousain victory
November 25, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Super interesting in this context is the reliquary of St Exupère. Exupère is the protector saint of Toulouse & his relics were displayed in the church of St Sernin during a siege on the city in 1217-8. The reliquary, which shows Exupère blessing the city gates, was made after the Toulousain victory
Hence plenty of objects with of Raimondin crosses, used and worn by allies of the counts of Toulouse in opposition to the lion d’argent of Simon de Montfort
November 25, 2024 at 9:55 AM
Hence plenty of objects with of Raimondin crosses, used and worn by allies of the counts of Toulouse in opposition to the lion d’argent of Simon de Montfort
My photos are terrible, but this opening section also showed how 19th/20thC painters and illustrators contributed to this nationalistic narrative - and how some of these ideas still linger in popular culture today
November 25, 2024 at 8:46 AM
My photos are terrible, but this opening section also showed how 19th/20thC painters and illustrators contributed to this nationalistic narrative - and how some of these ideas still linger in popular culture today
The Cathars exhibition in Toulouse was fab in lots of ways, but I was particularly struck at how well the show broke down some complicated historiography in an interesting (but totally necessary) way, via 19thC historians like Schmidt, Peyrat etc. & the nationalist ideas that run through their work
November 25, 2024 at 8:41 AM
The Cathars exhibition in Toulouse was fab in lots of ways, but I was particularly struck at how well the show broke down some complicated historiography in an interesting (but totally necessary) way, via 19thC historians like Schmidt, Peyrat etc. & the nationalist ideas that run through their work
The biblical figures surrounding the Trinity all bear scrolls with verses relating to justice (e.g. David holds a scroll with Psalm 105:3 ‘Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times’) - echoing the consulate’s role in judging trade disputes
And they all have fabulous hats
And they all have fabulous hats
November 21, 2024 at 4:03 PM
The biblical figures surrounding the Trinity all bear scrolls with verses relating to justice (e.g. David holds a scroll with Psalm 105:3 ‘Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times’) - echoing the consulate’s role in judging trade disputes
And they all have fabulous hats
And they all have fabulous hats
The consulate, set up in 1388 by John I of Aragon, controlled all trade in and out of Collioure, the port closest to Perpignan. The lower part of the panel depicts a sea port (so, ostensibly, Collioure) but with (I think?) the Loge de Mer in the foreground- so there’s a bit of imaginative play here
November 21, 2024 at 4:03 PM
The consulate, set up in 1388 by John I of Aragon, controlled all trade in and out of Collioure, the port closest to Perpignan. The lower part of the panel depicts a sea port (so, ostensibly, Collioure) but with (I think?) the Loge de Mer in the foreground- so there’s a bit of imaginative play here
Wherever I go, there’s a weird painting of the Trinity waiting for me…
This one is particularly wonderful though. It was made for Perpignan’s Loge de Mer, the town hall & commercial court (last 2 pics) where the sea consulate met, the body that controlled the region’s maritime trade
#medievalsky
This one is particularly wonderful though. It was made for Perpignan’s Loge de Mer, the town hall & commercial court (last 2 pics) where the sea consulate met, the body that controlled the region’s maritime trade
#medievalsky
November 21, 2024 at 4:01 PM
Wherever I go, there’s a weird painting of the Trinity waiting for me…
This one is particularly wonderful though. It was made for Perpignan’s Loge de Mer, the town hall & commercial court (last 2 pics) where the sea consulate met, the body that controlled the region’s maritime trade
#medievalsky
This one is particularly wonderful though. It was made for Perpignan’s Loge de Mer, the town hall & commercial court (last 2 pics) where the sea consulate met, the body that controlled the region’s maritime trade
#medievalsky
It has a curious half-finished cloister, filled with bits and bobs (fragments of sarcophagi?) and a naughty corbel or two (see for example the best of the lot, a lady breastfeeding dragons 🐉)
November 20, 2024 at 7:14 PM
It has a curious half-finished cloister, filled with bits and bobs (fragments of sarcophagi?) and a naughty corbel or two (see for example the best of the lot, a lady breastfeeding dragons 🐉)
Béziers today, and the wonderful Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, looking fortified and imposing, as intended
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 20, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Béziers today, and the wonderful Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, looking fortified and imposing, as intended
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Also I need your help with this slightly bonkers image #medievalsky: the catalogue says ‘Virgin & Child surrounded by saints’ but which saints? And… why?? Slightly weird iconography, no? Would appreciate pointers/other examples
November 19, 2024 at 1:57 PM
Also I need your help with this slightly bonkers image #medievalsky: the catalogue says ‘Virgin & Child surrounded by saints’ but which saints? And… why?? Slightly weird iconography, no? Would appreciate pointers/other examples
I’m in Perpignan to see this lovely manuscript, a 12thC book of the Gospels with a riot of beasties and naked guys - and a (less colourful) image of the Trinity, the bit I’m *technically* here for (though obvs the elephants and peacocks are absorbing all my attention)
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
November 19, 2024 at 1:38 PM
I’m in Perpignan to see this lovely manuscript, a 12thC book of the Gospels with a riot of beasties and naked guys - and a (less colourful) image of the Trinity, the bit I’m *technically* here for (though obvs the elephants and peacocks are absorbing all my attention)
#medievalsky
#medievalsky
Bonjour Perpignan ☀️
November 19, 2024 at 10:29 AM
Bonjour Perpignan ☀️
A flying visit to Toulouse and the lovely church of Saint-Sernin. Delighted to run into its remarkably well preserved 12th century wall paintings
November 18, 2024 at 11:51 AM
A flying visit to Toulouse and the lovely church of Saint-Sernin. Delighted to run into its remarkably well preserved 12th century wall paintings