Blanche Mortimer

[poliphilo]

St Bartholomew's, Much Marcle has a chancel that goes on for ever and a high altar that is almost out of earshot of the nave. There are several green men doing their thing on the tops of pillars and no fewer than four tombs with effigies- three of them medieval. The effigy of Blanche Mortimer (the Mortimers were among the power brokers of the Welsh Marches) is supremely lovely- a masterpiece of 14th century art- refined, restrained, deeply spiritual. Why do we make a fuss about Michelangelo's David and ignore this? The world is mad.

Comments

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Lovely, but I'd visit the place just to say I'd been to Much Marcle. I DO love English place names.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There's a Little Marcle too. "Much" seems to be a Herefordshire way of saying "Great"

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

An elegant lady indeed.
Like Carolyn, I'd visit the place just for its name as well!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Simon Jenkins- author of The 1000 Best English Churches- says she's his favourite effigy.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is stunning! So delicate! Amazing that it dates from the 14th century...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

So sophisticated.

(I sometimes think the Renaissance was a mistake.)

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Been heavily into the Mortimers for work purposes this last few days!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about them. Were they a good thing?

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

They were certainly more directly in line to the throne than all the wannabes who kept grabbing it!

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Ah, Much Marcle. I so love that church. I remember the way the folds of Blanche's gown slip just a little over the edge of the tomb. Lovely lovely monument.

Is the yew still living?

Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, the yew still flourishes.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

A noble tree.

Nine