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III 2 An Illustrated Indulgence for the Hirsau
Monastery
12 January 1347, Avignon
Parchment, 52.5 x 73.5 cm; originally with twelve attached
seals and transfix from 21 Juni 1347
Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart H 52 U 14
Twelve archbishops and bishops issued this indulgence for
Hirsau Monastery, situated in the Black Forest. The diocesan
bishop who was in charge added his transfix a few months
later. The special importance of the document is found in its
impressive illustrations: The upper border contains half portraits
of the main patron saints of Hirsau, Aurelius, Peter
and Paul. In the initial U, the Mother of God is portrayed
with the child, a monk kneeling before her with a banner.
III 2
32
The block of text is framed by St. Michael and the dragon
to the upper right, below him, St. Catherine, and to the
lower left, St. James. All of the saints are portrayed with
their attributes, through which the individual figures can be
clearly identified: a bishop’s staff, a key, sword, dragon, the
pilgrim’s staff and hat with a depiction of a scallop shell. All
of these signs and saintly attributes can also be found in
the world of watermarks, representing also there an iconographic
program that, depending on individual or institutional
“preference”, is based on the Christian realm of
saints.
Literature: Rückert, Die Verehrung des hl. Jakobus im Umfeld
des Klosters Hirsau.
P.R. (C.P.-K.)