Vatican Cope

The Vatican Cope, late 13th century, England. The Vatican Cope, late 13th century, England. Copyright Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticano, Museo Sacro, acc. no. 2447.

The Vatican Museum houses a cope that was made in England in the late thirteenth century in the tradition of opus anglicanum. It has a red silk ground material, and is embroidered with gold and silver-gilt threads and silk. It measures 137.2 x 309.9 cm. Originally it was larger; it has been trimmed along the semi-circular edge. It is kept in the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticano, Museo Sacro, acc. no. 2447.

The design of the Vatican cope is worked in underside couching, split stitch, and laid- and couched work. The centre of the cope's back has representations, from top to bottom, of the Coronation of the Virgin, the Crucifixion, and the Virgin and Child. There are also standing figures of the apostles, saints and angels. None of these representations are particularly specific for any particular occasion.

The cope may have been a gift from the English king, Edward I (1239-1307), to Pope Boniface VIII (r. 1294-1303), who had visited England as a young cleric (when he was still called Benedetto Caetani).

The vestment is included in the exhibition on opus anglicanum at the Victoria and Albert Museum, October 2016 - February 2017.

Sources:

  • BROWNE, Clare, Glyn DAVIES, and M.A. MICHAEL (2016). English Medieval Embroidery: Opus Anglicanum, exhibition catalogue, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, Catalogue no. 23, pp. 146-150.
  • LEE, R.W. (1932). 'An English Gothic Embroidery in the Vatican', Memorie della Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia, Ser. III, III, 1932, pp. 1-34.

WV

Last modified on Friday, 03 March 2017 13:15