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Chiasm in choros: The dance of inspirited bodies

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Abstract

This paper explores the chiastic sign ⊗ in Romanesque art showing its investment in the form of the crown of the saints (e.g., the corona on the golden statue of Sainte Foy at Conques); in the mirroring of celestial and terrestrial music (Paris, BnF, MS Lat. 776, fol. 1v); and in the chiastic step of Christ, the Archangel Michael, and the apostles (sculptures and the Beatus MS at Santo Domingo de Silos). The pirouetting step present in the art at Santo Domingo de Silos is interpreted here as the expression of the imbrication of human and divine. This entwining channels caritas: the love for one’s neighbour through which the faithful can return to the divine at the end of time. A powerful confirmation of these ideas about the interdigitation of human and divine through the practice of caritas is offered by the poetry and music for the feast of the Mandatum (The Washing of the Feet).

Résumé

Cet article explore le signe chiastique dans l’art romane en montrant son investissement sous la forme de la couronne des saints (par exemple, la couronne sur la statue dorée de Sainte Foy à Conques); dans la mise en miroir des musiques célestes et terrestres (Paris, BnF, MS Lat. 776, fol. 1v) ; et dans le pas chiastique du Christ, l'archange Michel et les apôtres (sculptures et le Beatus MS à Santo Domingo de Silos). Le pas de pirouette présent dans l'art à Santo Domingo de Silos est interprété ici comme l'expression de l'imbrication de l'humain et du divin. Cet enchevêtrement canalise la caritas : l'amour du prochain par lequel les fidèles peuvent revenir au divin à la fin des temps. Une puissante confirmation de ces idées sur l'interdigitation de l'humain et du divin à travers la pratique de la caritas est offerte par la poésie et la musique de la fête du Mandatum (Le lavement des pieds).

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Notes

  1. The term ‘Mozarabic’ refers to both Christians living in al-Andalus and emigrants to the Christian North of the Iberian Peninsula. 

  2. http://cantusindex.org/id/205043. For an online scan of the notation, see: https://gregobase.selapa.net/chant.php?id=3963. Another similar chant appears more frequently in Aquitanian MS, ubi est caritas et dilectio: http://cantusindex.org/id/005259. All accessed May 7, 2023.

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  1. Department of Art & Art History, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Bissera V. Pentcheva

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Pentcheva, B.V. Chiasm in choros: The dance of inspirited bodies. Postmedieval 14, 315–343 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41280-023-00271-5

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