Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Joseph

Parma, part of the Holy Roman Empire since Charlemagne´s times, was locally ruled by its bishops. During the long Investiture Controversy, Parma was (mostly) member of the Imperial party ("Ghibellini"). Two of Parma´s bishops even became antipopes: Càdalo as Honorius II and Guibert as Clement III. An almost independent commune was created around 1140. After the Peace of Constance confirmed the Italian communes' rights of self-governance in 1183, quarrels with the neighbouring communes (eg Piacenza and Cremona) developed over the trading lines along the Po river. When in 1248 Papist families ("Guelphs") gained control over the city, Emperor Frederick II (aka "Stupor Mundi") besieged Parma with no success. This were the circumstances, when in 1196 the City Council of Parma commissioned the building of the Battistero di San Giovanni to Benedetto Antelami. In 1216 the second tier was completed. The work stopped under a temporary roof. It continued in 1249 and the octagon, located next to the cathedral, was finally completed in 1270. The Baptistery has three (!) portals. Here is the tympanum of one of them. Seated under the semicircular Tree of Jesse is Virgin Mary, young Jesus on her knees. To the left the Magi approach (names written above them) adoring, to the right Joseph gets a message from an angel. On the lintel below Jesus is getting baptised by John the Baptist. John later gets beheaded during an evening meal of the Herodes family.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. Joseph While Mary and Jesus receive the Magi (on the left), Joseph sits just around the corner. Joseph is waiting and obviously very bored. Maybe he is even depressed. I know, that postnatal depression (PPD) is mostly affects women, but can affect men as well. Joseph´s head is resting on his hand. This squatting/depressed Joseph in exactly this position is a romanesque icon. I do not know, what exactly is the meaning of that. It can often be see at the Nativity ot the Adoration of the Magi.

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery, built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. The Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals were carved by the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña") or his workshop. The doors below this tympanum lead from the cloister to the nave of the church. At least three chrismons can be found on tympana in San Pedro el Viejo. This one, hold by two angels, is one of them. Below are the Magi, adoring the Virgin and Child. The scene seems like "organized" by a family-photographer. All pictured persons here face the audience. Even the Magi, who is just handing over his present, has turned his face to the onlooker. Joseph, who can often be found contemplating (sleeping) in this scene, is greeting the audience. The Magi can often be found along the pilgrim-routes. Cluny, the burgundian abbey, that was highly important to develop these routes, may have "distributed" this scene. Just like the Magi followed the "Star of Bethlehem", the pilgrims followed the camino on their way to CompoSTELLA. The scene is framed by two objects, that look like christmas-trees, but they must stand for something different, as Christmas trees were "invented" in the Alsace around 1500.

The Iglesia de Santiago stands surrounded by macchia at the end of a dust road about a kilometer southeast of Agüero. This isolated place is probably why it is named as well "Ermita de Santiago". It is a very strange structure and I did not have much information about. At one time within the 12th century somebody had started to build a pretty large basilica (- in the middle of nowhere). Obviously money was not an issue, as gifted sculptors and experienced builders left their marks here. Then - some decades later, the building process stopped, the church was never completed. The Adoration of the Magi. No wonder, that the artist/workshop known as "Master of San Juan de la Peña" is even better known under the name of "Master of Agüero". I had seen his works in San Juan de la Peña and Sangüesa, but this well preserved, large tympanum is a masterpiece. The Virgin "equipped" with wide shoulders (compared to the Magi), seems to proudly accept the adoration of the child (nimbus), who blesses the visitors. Tired Joseph, holding a walking stick, seems to contemplate already about Egypt. A common Joseph-icon. One of the Magi kisses young Jesus´ feet - just like in Sos del Rey Católico (80kms northwest). A crack runs through the tympanum. From Jospeh´s shoulder down to the Virgin´s shoes. Two fierce, devouring animals hold the lintel. They will be better seen on one of the following uploads.

A small community of Canons in Chauvigny was founded by the Seigneurs de Chauvigny around 1025. Bishop Isembert I of Poitiers (+ 1047) was a Seigneur de Chauvigny, as well as his sucessor. The erection of the Collegiate church started end of the 11th century. It took about a century to complete the structure. The church was in the center of the heavily fortified stronghold, that has a long history of sieges, lootings, captures and recaptures. The "Cité Médiéval" was in ruins end of the 18th century. Mid 19th century the restauration process started. Since then the interior of Saint-Pierre has this distinctive colour-scheme of white and red. The church is known for the capitals, that are in deed extraordinary. A psychostasia, the "weighing of souls", to the left. Archangel Gabriel holds the scales. To the right a devil tries to cheat, holding down the balance beam. HIS E DIABOLUS is written above the devil. Next to this is a thoughtful prophet labeled BABILONIA DESERT. This probably refers to Revelation 18 : "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!" Actually the prophet looks a bit like the tired, contemplating Joseph, who can often be found near the Nativity scene. And this is near, as to the right is one of the shepherds ("PASTORES"), to whom Gabriel announces Christ's birth (around the corner).