HEXAB133 Click on
Thumbnail
for
23 photos
Smithson Screen
screen | furniture
wood
Gothic oak screen of 12 columns supporting a spreading ribbed vaulting supporting wider gallery area, used as organ loft since the 18th century. The six columns on each side divide the screen into five archways; the centre archway is open with access from crossing to quire. On West side, each arch has a fixed lower area of four panels, each with a painted saint. Above, the pointed arch is filled with double-leaf folding shutters. Within the central archway there is a door on each side leading into the space between the sides of the screen. Above the doors in the central archway are two paintings: on the north is the Annunciation and on the south is the Visitation. On the east side the archways are open with no shutters. Lower panels obscured by choir stalls. On upper west side, the gallery front is made up of 21 traceried niches. On upper east side is a polygonal projection of 6 panels, four painted with saints. To each side are five panels also painted with saints. See Abbey Leaflet HEXAB9158.5
late 15th cent
Thomas Smithson, elected 4th June 1499, a native of Yorkshire, was Prior of Hexham, Prebendary of Salton, and Canon Residentiary of York 1499–1524. It is presumed that the Smithson Stone [HEXAB6507] was part of his funerary monument.
1865. The erection of a larger organ, brought from Carlisle Cathedral some years ago, has caused a great deal of reconstruction about the gallery and its eastern front. [Hexham Abbey, Monograph by Hodges, 1888, p.47]
Detailed drawing [HEXAB3044] by Hodges published as Plate 43 in his 1888 monograph.
The gallery above was widened and the pulpitum enlarged, when the present organ was put in, about 1865. [Hexham and its Abbey, Hodges, 1889, p.73]
1908: Alterations to the screen were criticized by Aymer Vallance in letters to The Times 18th & 31st August, and defended by letters from Greville H Palmer 21st August, W H Freemantle 24th August, and finally E Sidney Savage 11th September.
1989: Thorburn Preservation, Haltwhistle, having inspected suspected dry or wet rot in the timbers at the base of the Smithson Screen, treated these timbers against rising damp and fungal decay by injection of a chemical damp course into the stonework and treating the decay by chemical spray. [Churchwardens Record HEXAB9535 p63, 21 July]
1990: “Repairs to Smithson Screen.” [Churchwardens Record HEXAB9535 p67, 10 Jan]
There are infra-red images of 14 of the 16 painted panels on the west side [HEXAB9009.1]
c. max D 3960 | ground level D north side 2130 | south side 2150 | W north side 3180 | south side 3130 | archway 1670
fixed, east side
Tower Crossing
1916. 17th day of August. Restoration of West side of the Rood Screen. Faculty reg. no.1. Faculty no.539. NRO EP.184/80.
1961: “(2) To restore the Mediæval Panel Paintings”; Faculty Regr. no.3. Faculty no. 2195, 10.7.1961
See also: www.hexhamabbey.org.uk

HEXAB133.1Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Cuthbert
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Scs Cuthbertus’ Background is red with floriated brocade pattern. St Cuthbert carrying head of Oswald in right hand. crosier in left hand.
Tracery heads are green. Tracery front may have orpiment. Paint barb is present down the right hand side, board shifted by 2 cm towards the left. Active flaking in the face. Iconoclasm in both faces and on the inscription.
c1500
In 684, Cuthbert was elected Bishop of Hexham at a synod at Twyford (believed to be present-day Alnmouth), but was reluctant to leave his retirement and take up his charge; it was only after a visit from a large group, including King Ecgfrith, that he agreed to return and take up the duties of bishop, but instead as Bishop of Lindisfarne, swapping with Eata, who went to Hexham in Cuthbert's place. Cuthbert was consecrated at York by Archbishop Theodore and six bishops, on 26 March 685. But after Christmas 686, he returned to his cell on Inner Farne Island, where he died on 20 March 687, after a painful illness. He was buried at Lindisfarne the same day, and after long journeys escaping the Danes his remains chose, as was thought, to settle at Durham, causing the foundation of the city and Durham Cathedral.
St Cuthbert is depicted in another panel: HEXAB202.7, and in 2 windows: HEXAB1431.5 (twice) & HEXAB1407.6
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.2Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Denis
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Scs [-]is’ Green brocade pattern background. St Denis carrying his own severed head with his left hand; a cephalophore. Another head superimposed upon the neck suggesting symbolically the journey made from the scene of his execution. Crosier in right hand.
Tracery heads are red, and are positioned low by about 1 cm. Clear paint barb. Halo orpiment, but very deteriorated. Heavily restored. Iconoclasm targeting the severed head and neck, not head in background.
c1500
Denis of Paris was a 3rd-century Christian martyr and saint. According to his hagiographies, he was bishop of Paris (then Lutetia) in the 3rd century and, together with his companions Rusticus and Eleutherius, was martyred for his faith by decapitation. Denis is the most famous cephalophore in Christian history, with a popular story claiming that the decapitated bishop picked up his head and walked several miles while preaching a sermon on repentance. He is venerated in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of France and Paris and is accounted one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.3Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St (unknown)
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Scs [-]’ (It is a long name with as many as 10 letters, not legible). Green tracery heads, green panel background with a chequered background carried out in black. Crosier in right hand; open book in left hand.
The panel is offset, a few cms too low for its tracery. There does appear to be orpiment on this panel as well. Iconoclasm in the hand and faces, also upper body. The inscription is worn and overpainted. Again, this panel is significantly repainted.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.4Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Alchmund
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Scs Alchmundus’ There are remnants of a brocade pattern around the back. Red tracery head background. Right hand raised in blessing; crosier in left hand.
A paint barb is visible to the right-hand side. There appears to be orpiment in the mitre. It is hard to read the background, it is now very ‘muddy’. There is iconoclasm in the saint's face and sporadically on the hands and upper body. Copious restoration, including the entire background. Occasional flaking.
c1500
Alcmund of Hexham (died 7 September 780 or 781) became the 7th bishop of the see of Hexham in Northumberland when he was consecrated on 24 April 767; the see was centred on the church there founded by Wilfrid.
Alcmund died on 7 September 780 or 781 and was buried beside Acca outside the church. Virtually nothing is now known of his life, but he was apparently deeply venerated as one of the Hexham saints.
St Alcmund is also depicted in another panel, HEXAB202.1, and in stained glass: HEXAB1417
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.5Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Eata
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S Eata reg vii a’ Green tracery head background. Red floral brocade pattern on the background of the panel. St Eata holds a red bag in right hand, crosier in left hand.
Iconoclasm on hand, bag, face. Significant repainting of the main elements like the crosier. Sporadic flaking.
c1500
Eata (died 26 October 686), also known as Eata of Lindisfarne, was Bishop of Hexham from 678 until 681, and then Bishop of Lindisfarne from before 681 until 685. He then was translated back to Hexham where he served until his death in 685 or 686. He was the first native of Northumbria to occupy the bishopric of Lindisfarne.
St Eata is depicted in two other panels: HEXAB202.2 & HEXAB3068.2, and in window HEXAB1417
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.6Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Tilbeorht
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S Tillbertus reg ** a’ There is clear evidence of brocade in the background. Right hand raised in blessing; crosier in left hand.
Paint barb on the left side has shifted about a cm and at the top it has shifted down by 0.5 cm. Iconoclasm has occurred to the face, hands and chest. Orpiment has been employed in the background, which is now very murky and overpainted.
c1500
Tilbeorht (or Tilberht) was a mediæval Bishop of Hexham. Tilbeorht was consecrated perhaps on 2 October in either 780 or 781. He died in 789.
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.7Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Wilfrid
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S Wilfrid?’ Green tracery head. Diaper background with use of orpiment. Closed book in right hand, primatial cross in left hand.
Iconoclasm has occurred to the face and emblem.
c1500
Wilfrid was born in Northumbria around 633. Wilfrid attended the synod, or council, of Whitby, as a member of the party favouring the continental practice of dating Easter, along with James the Deacon, Agilbert, and Alhfrith. Those supporting the “Celtic” viewpoint were King Oswiu, Hilda, the Abbess of Whitby, Cedd, a bishop, and Colmán of Lindisfarne, the Bishop of Lindisfarne. Wilfrid's speech in favour of adopting Roman church practices helped secure the eclipse of the “Celtic” party in 664, although most Irish churches did not adopt the Roman date of Easter until 704, and Iona held out until 716.
St Wilfrid is also depicted in panel HEXAB202.3 (& possibly HEXAB3068.1) and in windows HEXAB1406, HEXAB1407.5, HEXAB1417 [misspelt ‘Wilfred’], HEXAB1427, HEXAB1431.3 (twice), & HEXAB1431.4
Tower Crossing
See also: www.hexhamabbey.org.uk

HEXAB133.8Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St John of Beverley
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘St John of Beverley (S Johan)’ Red tracery heads. Dark brocade background. Closed book in left hand, primatial cross in right hand.
A considerable amount of iconoclasm.
c1500
John of Beverley (died 7 May 721) was an English bishop active in the kingdom of Northumbria. He was the bishop of Hexham and then the bishop of York, which was the most important religious designation in the area. He went on to found the town of Beverley by building the first structure there, a monastery. John was associated with miracles during and after his lifetime and was canonized a saint by the Catholic Church in 1037. As this is prior to the Great East–West Schism of 1054, he is also recognized as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
St John of Beverley is also depicted in panel HEXAB202.4 (& possibly HEXAB3068.1), and in windows: HEXAB1417 & HEXAB1431.6 (twice)
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.9Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Archbishop ?
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Unknown Archbishop’ Green tracery heads. Right hand raised in blessing; primatial cross in left hand.
The red background is relatively well-preserved. Iconoclasm has occurred to the Archbishop's head and cross.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.10Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St (unknown)
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S Ea….(+ 5 additional letters?)’ Diaper pattern background that appears to contain orpiment. Crosier in right hand; left hand pointing to his right.
There is a paint barb visible on the left. Very damaged evident in raking light along the bottom. Iconoclasm particularly visible on the face.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.11Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Francis of Assisi
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S. aed…?’ Green tracery heads. Green background with foliage brocade pattern. The saint's mitre is relatively well-preserved. Crosier in left hand; right hand holding his cope.
Iconoclasm has happened to the hand and face. A bad horizontal scrape is present below the chin.
c1500
Francis (c. 1181 – 3 October 1226) was an Italian mystic and Catholic friar who founded the Franciscans. He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228. He is usually depicted in a robe with a rope as a belt.
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.12Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St (unknown)
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Red tracery heads, red background with floral brocade. Crosier in right hand, closed book with clasp in left hand.
Paint scheme not wide enough for the space – i.e. 1 cm too short on the right. Iconoclasm has occurred to the face and throughout.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.13Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St (unknown)
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Hardly any remnant of the inscription is left Disrupted orpiment containing background with brocade pattern. Crosier in left hand.
Bad instance of flaking, bottom left. Severe loss to the face. Varnish as on others. Iconoclasm bad on the face, a bit on the body.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.14Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Acca ?
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S?’ A diaper pattern of a muddy colour is present in the background with bright bits shining through, suggestive of orpiment. There are red tracery heads Crosier in right hand, open book in left hand.
A diaper pattern of a muddy colour is present in the background with bright bits shining through, suggestive of orpiment. Iconoclasm is present on the face, book and hands.
c1500
Acca of Hexham (c.660 – 740/742) was an early mediæval Northumbrian prelate, serving as bishop of Hexham from 709 until 732, and subsequently commemorated as a Christian saint.
St Acca is also depicted in panel HEXAB202.5 and in stained glass: HEXAB1417 & HEXAB1431.5; Acca's Cross is HEXAB6503
Tower Crossing
See also: www.hexhamabbey.org.uk

HEXAB133.15Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Frithubeorht ?
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘S [-] (It is a long name with as many as 10 letters, not legible)’ The tracery heads are green. Crosier in right hand. His open left hand faces outwards, as a sign of judgement.
There is a paint barb along the left-hand side. There is iconoclasm on the face and a little further down. The panel background is red and there is a damaged brocade pattern. In this case, the inscription is quite repainted.
c1500
Frithubeorht (or Frithbert, Frithuberht, Latin: Frithubertus) (died 23 December AD 766) was an 8th-century mediæval Bishop of Hexham. As the seventh Bishop of Hexham, Frithbert served for a lengthy thirty-four years until his death.
St Frithubeorht is also depicted in panel HEXAB202.6 and as ‘Fredbert’ in window HEXAB1417
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.16Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St (unknown)
painted-panel | flat art
wood
‘Scs [-] (About 7 letters illegible)’ Tracery heads are red. The background is murky, brocaded and has some orpiment content. Crosier in left hand.
There are paint barbs along both sides indicating a reduced original sight size to the current framework by 1 cm in total. Iconoclasm on face and hands, there is little original left on his face. Some original blue in the paint of his face. Flaking significantly towards the bottom down to a white ground layer.
c1500
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.17Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
The Annunciation
painted-panel | flat art
wood
The winged angel Gabriel on the left and the virgin Mary on the right; [Luke 1:26–38].
Vertical oak boards, from left to right, sight width 21.7 cm, 27.5 cm, 27.4 cm, 27.5 cm, 23 cm. Central board has split. There is a split in the left-hand board, which has been repaired. Internal splitting in right hand lower board has occurred, but appears stable.
c1500
Mary is also depicted in panels HEXAB133.18, HEXAB199.1, & HEXAB203.9, in painting HEXAB3076, and in stained-glass: HEXAB1402, HEXAB1414 (4 times), & HEXAB1422
W 127 cm
north side of doorway
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.18Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
The Visitation
painted-panel | flat art
wood
The visit of Mary (pregnant with Jesus) to Elizabeth (pregnant with John the Baptist) as recorded in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:39–56). [Alternatively, ‘The Visitation’ might in fact be Mary Magdalene announcing, to the virgin Mary, the Resurrection, outside the city walls; the figure has the loose red hair of Mary Magdalene, and on the right there is a very strong representation of a city gate, on the left could be the Rock of Calvary, with crosses on it.] But most similar paintings also show Elizabeth with loose red hair.
Six large boards and one sliver (3 cm) along left side. From left to right: 1: 17.5 cm, 2: 23.2 cm, 3: 23 cm, 4: 23 cm, 5: 23.2 cm, 6: 12.5 cm. The boards appear tooled rather than sawn. A split present in the 4th board, previously repaired, extends almost 50% up through the board. The brattishing moulding is original, though repainted.
c1500
Elizabeth is also depicted in the painting over the high altar, HEXAB3076
Mary is also depicted in panels HEXAB133.17, HEXAB199.1, & HEXAB203.9, in painting HEXAB3076, and in stained-glass: HEXAB1402, HEXAB1414 (4 times), & HEXAB1422
W 126 cm
south side of doorway
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.19Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 1
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Crosier in right hand, closed book in left. Cope dark blue or green originally, patterned with pale fleurs-de-lis. Mitre, halo and crozier all gilded.
Two oak boards, probably two rectangular inserts at the bottom, difficult to see due to dust. There is a wax repair to the join. No splits.
c1500
Sight W 40 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.20Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Archbishop 2
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Green brocade pattern on the background. Starts on a red tracery head. Red dalmatic with the cross decorations. Primatial cross in left hand, closed book in right.
Two oak boards, the whole bottom section appears to have been replaced. There is wax in the joint.
c1500
Sight W 39 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.21Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 3
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Inner tunic is green with red flowers. As with all the others, a verdant foreground meadow with a variety of flowering plants. Crosier in left hand, right hand raised in blessing.
Two oak boards, some inserts on the bottom of the panel.
c1500
Sight W 35.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.22Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 4
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Condition is fairly good, hands, mitre, crozier, face look good. Less restoration on this face than on some of the other panels. The background has the green impasto brocade and survives quite poorly, like all the other green backgrounds. Crosier in left hand, closed book in right.
Two oak panels, clearly jagged formation inserts of oak along the bottom, associated with a split close to the right hand edge and visible above the insert. Has been repaired again using a wax resin.
c1500
Sight W 33.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.23Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 5
painted-panel | flat art
wood
The tracery head internal colour is first red then green. The panel has a red background. The gilding survives well, on the crozier, mitre, halo. Face has heavy overpainting, but it is not clear whether this was really necessary as the eyes look in good condition. The same is true of the hands. He is wearing a dark cloak with white flowers and holds a green book with a red clasp in right hand, crosier in left.
Two oak panels, there are inserts at the bottom there is a part missing and another section coming adrift. It would be sensible to stabilize the loose insert and to make a new insert for the bottom.
c1500
Sight W 33 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.24Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Andrew
painted-panel | flat art
wood
He has red tracery heads behind the tracery. Brocade pattern on the background curtain which is green in colour. His halo is not gilded, very damaged though, possibly repainted. His white hair is done with impasto lead white. His cross has speckly, lumpy particles in the highlights which may well be lead tin yellow. His inner garment is red and contains vermilion. His outer garment is harder to determine, it appears to be plain. He stands barefoot on a pasture and there are little flowers in this area. His cross in left hand, a closed book in right.
Original sight size was 46 cm. Two boards, no splits visible. There is a paint barb along both the sides which means he has been shifted (as we know he has been). There has been considerable overpainting.
c1500
Andrew the Apostle was born between 5 and 10 AD in Bethsaida, in Galilee. The New Testament states that Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, and likewise a son of Jonah. Andrew is said to have been martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras (Patræ) in Achaea, in AD 60. Andrew's relics were probably brought to Britain in 597 as part of the Augustine Mission, and then in 732 to Fife, by Bishop Acca of Hexham, a well-known collector of religious relics. Andrew is Patron Saint of fishermen, fishmongers, rope-makers, textile workers, singers, miners, pregnant women, butchers, farm workers, protection against sore throats, protection against convulsions, protection against fever, protection against whooping cough, Russian Navy.
St Andrew is also depicted in two other panels, HEXAB203.14 & HEXAB213.10, and in stained glass: HEXAB1407.1, HEXAB1407.2, HEXAB1407.3, HEXAB1417, HEXAB1418.1 (twice), & HEXAB1418.5
Sight W 52.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.25Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Etheldreda
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Gilding employed for halo, crown and highlights on hair. Also use of lead tin yellow highlights in the hair. The inside of the halo was originally blue. The background has an elaborate brocade pattern on a fictive curtain hanging on rings which are placed immediately below the points of the original tracery. The curtain imitates a green fabric with brighter green pomegranate design. The background has whitish brown over some of it, especially along the sides, which is most likely to be whitewash or graining. St Etheldreda, seated on backless throne, is wearing an ermine cloak with black ermine tails and red stars with some gilding and other red. Variations on red stars and on gilding. The inside of her cloak is green and her inner garment red. Her cloak may once have been blue or perhaps purple.
Two wide boards, each board is 24 cm wide. Vertical grain, oak. A vertical split coming from the top of the left-hand board, centrally, and extending two thirds of the length of the panel. No splits in the other board. No stability concerns associated with the splits. Tracery does not match the paint scheme and we know the panels have been in and out. Tracery is quite loose, it is not clear how it is fixed, it may be with two nails from the side.
c1500
Etheldreda or Æthelthryth (c. 636 – 23 June 679 AD) was an East Anglian princess, a Fenland and Northumbrian queen and Abbess of Ely. During her marriage to Ecgfirth, Etheldreda maintained a close friendship with Wilfrid the Bishop of York. It is documented that she gifted land to him to establish various religious houses including Hexham Abbey in Northumbria. Her patronage of Wilfrid turned him into a powerful ally within the Northumbrian court. In the scant records of Etheldreda's life it is known that Wilfrid served as her ally against her husband Ecgfirth when she wished to end the marriage to enter religious life.
Etheldreda is also depicted in several windows: HEXAB1407.5, HEXAB1427 (thrice), & HEXAB1431.4 (twice)
Sight W 48 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.26Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St Oswald
painted-panel | flat art
wood
The blessing hand is well-preserved. The crown and halo are gilded, with white or lead tin yellow impasto highlights for hair and for curly beard. Seated on backless throne, he is wearing a brocade patterned garment and the colour scheme is once again hard to determine. Mimicry of gold thread in the brocade silk.
Two oak boards, tracery profile belongs on the St John, not on this as there are two rather than three cusps on the lower ogee.
c1500
Head & shoulders included on Pl.44 in Hodges' 1888 Monograph, with caption ‘Head of a King from a Painting | on one of the five Eastern Panels’.
St Oswald is depicted twice in window HEXAB1431.2 (and his head in HEXAB1431.5 & in painted-panel HEXAB133.1)
Sight W 48.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.27Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
St John the Evangelist
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Tracery head decorations are red. This panel is more overpainted than the other two and is also in worse condition (this has probably led to the overpaint). Heavily restored. Curtain in this instance was green. Serpent emerging from chalice in left hand.
Tracery has been replaced incorrectly in this case: We see a 3-cusped tracery on a 2-cusped tracery pattern on the panel from the original scheme. Two boards. Two splits with associated, ample wax-filling that is cracking.
c1500
St John is also depicted in panels HEXAB199.3 & HEXAB203.6, and in window HEXAB1418.6
Sight W 52 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.28Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 6
painted-panel | flat art
wood
There are sacred monograms on the garb. The halo, mitre and crozier are gilded. Dotted mitre very alike to the rostrum bishops. There is possibly gilding present on the clothing also. The figure is standing in a landscape with plants. The background is painted to imitate green brocade. Red and green alteration in tracery heads, starting with green. Adjacent barber's pole paint scheme on the mullions is partially preserved. Crosier in left hand.
Two boards, but splits and insert at bottom. Large split in left hand board with historical repair with wax. Wax present in central join. Not perfectly fitted. Tracery probably original, very slightly misaligned, but stable.
c1500
Sight W 33 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.29Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Archbishop 7
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Background is red brocade with blackened foliage patterning (possibly red lake over vermilion, causing blackening of vermilion). Possibly faded red or blue cloak. Well-preserved original gilding, but with some gold paint repairs. Primatial cross in right hand, red bag (containing book?) in left.
Two boards. Inserts at the bottom, possibly broken board at the bottom. The tracery is misaligned. Used to be in a slightly narrower setting: visible paint barb along the left-hand edge.
c1500
Sight W 36.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.30Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 8
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Green foliage brocade pattern in background. Red colour in his cloak. Tracery unclear how it relates, but tracery continues in green and red sequence, starting with red. Crosier in right hand, closed book in left.
Two boards, repair at the bottom with three replacement pieces. Fits better within the framework.
c1500
Sight W 38.5 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.31Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 9
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Foliage brocade pattern. Gilding of the usual passages. Face well-preserved. colour hard to distinguish – appears brownish, with stars. Tracery heads starting with green. Crosier in left hand.
Two boards, single insert at the bottom. Possibly small insert at bottom centre? Tracery close to being aligned, misaligned by a few millimetres only.
c1500
Sight W 40 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.32Hover on
Thumbnail
to
enlarge
Bishop 10
painted-panel | flat art
wood
Fleur-de-lis decoration on inner garment. Greek crosses on outer robe. Tracery heads starting with green. Crosier in right hand.
Two boards, quite stepped, two inserts at the bottom. No visible splits. Tracery not well-aligned.
c1500
Sight W 37 cm
Tower Crossing

HEXAB133.33 Click on
Thumbnail
for
55 photos
Smithson Screen Pateræ, etc.
patera | furniture
wood | lead
Pateræ and bosses affixed to various parts of the pulpitum; mostly carved wood, painted, some moulded lead. See Abbey Leaflet HEXAB9158.5
13 of the 24 pateræ on the west side show Prior Thomas's words, contorted and crammed into their own initials:
Orate Pro Anima Domini Thomæ S Priori Huius Ecclesia Qui Fecit Hoc Opus
Pray For the Soul of Master Thomas S[mithson] Prior of This Church Who Made This Work
late 15th cent
The patera representing ‘Ecclesia’ was missing when illustrated in Hutchinson, 1776, and is a relatively modern replacement.
Tower Crossing
See also: www.hexhamabbey.org.uk



Use ctrl+F
to search
this page