English Church Monuments in the Middle Ages

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This work provides a comprehensive survey of English church monuments from the pre-Conquest period to the early sixteenth century, treating the subject within a historical context. It explores medieval monuments regarding their social significance and their role in the commemorative strategies of individuals. The text examines the production of monuments, their geographical distribution, the evolution of types, and design's role in conveying messages. A key theme is the self-representation of the commemorated, focusing on effigies of clergy, knights, esquires, and lesser landowners, while also analyzing women's effigial monuments through the lens of gender construction. The author utilizes monuments to gain insights into the lives of the commemorated and employs documentary sources to reveal the influences shaping these monuments. An innovative chapter discusses identity construction in inscriptions, highlighting how the liturgical role of monuments constrained opportunities for self-expression. The author aims to position monuments at the core of medieval studies, emphasizing their significance not only in the history of sculpture and design but also in social and religious history more broadly.