Metamorphosis of a Death Symbol: The Transi Tomb in the Late Middle Ages and the RenaissanceThis book focuses upon the tomb with a transi image, which the author defines as 'a tomb with a representation of the deceased as a corpse, shown either nude or wrapped in a shroud', tombs that were peculiar to Northern Europe from the late fourteenth through the seventeenth centuries. Cohen challenges the modern view that the transi image was a mere memento mori for the living. Drawing upon 200 examples of tombs with, as well as without transi images, and upon poetry, church hymns, prayers, sermons, ceremonial texts, and wills, she demonstrates that in the course of the 15th & 16th centuries the meaning of the transi evolved, reflecting changes in religious, social and intellectual life during this period. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adam alchemical Anne of Brittany arch Archbishop Archives Photographiques Bishop body carved Cathedral century Châlons Charles Chichele Christian church cited Claude Claude of France coffin corpse figures dead death deceased depicted double tombs effigy Emperor English epitaph fifteenth Flamel France François French fresco Fugger funeral funerary Germain Pilon German gisant Henry Henry Chichele Histoire humility Ibid illustrated inscription Jean John king La Sarraz Lagrange living London Louis de Brézé Louis XII Marguerite Marguerite of Austria medieval memento mori Middle Ages monument moralistic mort Museum nude painted Panofsky Paris Philibert Photograph Pierre Pierre Bontemps Pierre d'Ailly plaque poem pray prayers priant quod reliefs Renaissance René René of Châlons representation represented royal s'Jacob sarcophagus Sarra sermons Shroud Brass Sierck sixteenth sixteenth-century skeleton skull snakes and frogs soul symbol Three Quick tomb of Cardinal tomb of Louis traditional transi figures transi image transi tombs triumphal Unidentified transi virtues worms