Two of the enigmatic panels (showing Life of St Bertram?) carved around the Romanesque font inside Holy Cross Church, Ilam, Staffordshire, England, UK
Two of the enigmatic panels carved around the Romanesque font inside Holy Cross Church, Ilam, Staffordshire, England, UK, reputedly showing scenes from the Life of St Bertram (Bettelin) whose shrine is in the church. Borrowed from the Life of St Berthelme of Fécamp, C8th Mercian prince Bertram became a missionary hermit at Ilam after his Irish princess bride was eaten by wolves while giving birth in a forest near Stafford on their way home from Ireland to Mercia. The panel on the L is said to show the newlyweds holding hands, but other suggestions are Christ leading Adam out of Hell or Adam & Eve, the cycle of images being based on scenes from a Mercian mystery play. This would better fit the other carvings, especially the adjacent form of Agnus Dei (Lamb of God, Lamb of the Apocalypse, Agnus Victor, anastasis) celebrating the victory of Christ's sacrifce & suffering & His Harrowing of Hell (Descent into Hell to save pagan souls who had no chance to know Him). Some describe the font as Anglo-Saxon but it is most likely to be C12th around 1120-30: the decorated columns in the arcade look particularly Norman.
Size: 2593px × 3715px
Location: Holy Cross Church, Ilam, Waterhouses, Staffordshire, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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