Vitreous vitae: St. Margaret of Antioch in thirteenth-century stained glass

Abstract

"In Vitreous Vitae: St. Margaret of Antioch in Thirteenth-Century Stained Glass, Ashley J. Laverock considers the representation of the virgin martyr St. Margaret in thirteenth-century stained-glass windows in Europe. These windows appeared at a moment when Margaret's cult was expanding but before the motif of the saint with the ragon became normative. They offer insight into the rich narrative potential of Margaret's life in a monumental medium seen by wide audiences. Examining these windows not only reveals shared emphases on Margaret's imitatio Christi , corporeal suffering, and encounters with the dragon and demon, but also shows how distinct site-specific hagiographies of Margaret were tailored to each church's context. Multi-faceted Margarets contributed to the wider cult of the saint." -- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Martyr and medium : the cult of St. Margaret and stained glass -- Narrating Margaret's passion : the multi-layered martyr at the Church of St. Margaret at Ardagger Abbey -- Witnessing the martyr : Margaret's corporeal suffering at Auxerre Cathedral -- From suffering to slaying : Margaret's triumphs over the dragon and demon at Chartres Cathedral -- Margaret's expanding imagery : multivalent Margarets in other thirteenth-century windows -- Moving forward with Margaret and the dragon.