Keywords: German - Bowl with Scenes from the Legend of St Ursula - Walters 5369 - Detail D.jpg The narrative on this basin tells the story of Saint Ursula and her 11 000 companions who embarked on a pious journey from England to the Continent only to be met by the Huns in Cologne and slaughtered Ursula was warned of her impending doom according to the legend but willingly accepted martyrdom to join the kingdom of heaven The narrative is executed in a simple engaging manner The movement of Ursula and her companions is echoed in the narrative progression around the bowl as one turns it to follow the story The kinetic dimension of the display would likely have made this manner of recounting the saint's legend more memorable than simple recitation Indeed some scholars have suggested that bronze vessels of this type might have been used for teaching while others maintain that they might have played a role in liturgical hand-washing performed by nuns In the latter instance the swirling ocean crossed by Ursula must have looked quite realistic when seen through the rippling water that filled the bowl century 12 Medieval copper alloy cm 6 5 28 7 accession number 53 69 6988 Signol M E G Reidy Sale London July 19 1929 Bacri Paris Léon Gruel Paris Henry Walters Baltimore by purchase Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters Transcription Engraved on rim of bowl DESPONSANDA DAT HIS RESPONSIO BLANDA / VIRGINEO QUE GRAVES MITTIT PC AGMINE NAVES / POSTQUAM TURBA RUDIS FUIT HIS EXERCITA LUDIS CARBASA PANDUNTUR AGRIPPINA QUE FERUNTUR / QUE LOCA VIRGINEIS DISCUNT SACRANDA TROPHEIS / HINC VIA DIRGITUR QUA MOX BASILEA SUBITUR; Translation The betrothed gives a favorable answer / He sends great ships for the crowd of young women / After the uneducated crowd was practiced in these games the sails are raised bearing them to Agippina Cologne / This place they teach is made sacred through the triumph of the virgins / from here they took the direct way to Basel; Transcription Engraved in the border around the central medalion URSULA SOLLICITE SACRA DISCIT DOGMATA VITAE; Translation Ursula eagerly teaches the holy dogma of life place of origin Germany Walters Art Museum license Medieval metalwork in the Walters Art Museum Bowl with Scenes from the Legend of St Ursula in the Walters Art Museum 53 69 Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review |