Cross, Crown and Crusade
The World of the Early Fourteenth-Century Norwegian Altar Frontal from Nedstryn
Henrik von Achen (Author),
Category: Art, History, Media and Visual Culture, Museum and Heritage Studies, Religion
Language: English
ISBN: 9789462705418
Publication date: November 2, 2026
€65.00 (including 6% VAT)
COMING SOON
Available to pre-order two weeks before date of publication.
Number of pages: 440
Size: 234 x 156 x mm
Illustrations and other content description:
Illustrated, 80 pages in colour
Funded by: KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access
University of Bergen
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Category: Art, History, Media and Visual Culture, Museum and Heritage Studies, Religion
Language: English
ISBN: 9789461667960
Publication date: November 2, 2026
COMING SOON
Number of pages: 440
Illustrations and other content description:
Illustrated, 80 pages in colour
Funded by: KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access
University of Bergen
Category: Art, History, Media and Visual Culture, Museum and Heritage Studies, Religion
Language: English
ISBN: 9789461667953
Publication date: November 2, 2026
COMING SOON
Number of pages: 440
Illustrations and other content description:
Illustrated, 80 pages in colour
Funded by: KU Leuven Fund for Fair Open Access
University of Bergen
A multidisciplinary study of a unique Scandinavian altar frontal.
The altar frontal from Nedstryn in Western Norway is the only preserved medieval panel painting in Europe that displays an extensive version of the legend of Heraclius and the True Cross. To understand the message conveyed by the painting, this study adopts a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses the art history of High Medieval altar frontal decorations, discusses the primary agents – patron, adviser, and master – and considers the intended Norwegian audience, while tracing the visual and textual sources available around 1300.
Embedded in this seemingly straightforward narrative lies a wealth of meaning: the function of the Holy Cross, the concept of Christian kingship and the role of Crusades as waging both a military and spiritual battle against “enemies of the Cross”. The audience was encouraged to follow the example of Heraclius and engage in this struggle.
Grounded in a contextual analysis of both meaning and production, the study mobilises sources across regions and centuries, and shows how visual and textual literacies were shaped by secular and liturgical practices. It demonstrates how a work produced in Bergen around 1315 aligns with broader Northern European artistic and cultural developments.
This book illuminates an unparalleled masterpiece of medieval art through diverse and insightful analytical lenses. - Ángel Pazos-López, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
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