Corpus of Medieval Misericords, Belgium and the Netherlands

The Corpus of Medieval Misericords (XIII-XXVI) consists of five volumes; the first four focus on the misericords and related choir stall carvings in specific regions of Europe. The fifth includes an extensive iconographic index of themes common to various countries as well as themes that are unique to a single country. Volume III of this series, Medieval Misericords in Belgium and the Netherlands, covers the churches in the Low Countries that still contain gothic misericords with carved figures and narratives inspired by oral traditions such as proverbs and folk tales, as well as by manuscript marginalia, romanesque capitals, illustrated bibles, engravings, playing cards... A vast portrayal of medieval life - rural activities, urban occupations, conjugal relationships, monastic life - is displayed in these carvings under the seats of choir stalls along with costumes of the times, town and collegiate architecture, mechanical devices.