The Diffusion of Early Franco-ItalianAll'AnticaOrnament: The Renaissance Frieze in the Chapel of the Hospital of St Cross, Winchester, and the Gaillon Stalls, Now at St Denis, Paris

Abstract

In Volume 82 (2002) of theAntiquaries Journal,the canopied benches at St Cross were described, along with a discussion of their date and patronage. This paper takes the subject further by suggesting a reconstruction of the layout of these fittings. Conclusions reached in the earlier paper are further refined: the distinctive mouldings on the frieze, benches and desks clearly demonstrate that all three elements are integral to the same work and not added to preexisting benches, as previously argued. Further research suggests that the imagery and style of the frieze at St Cross had little impact on the aesthetic of the works patronized by Bishop Fox in Winchester Cathedral. Instead, parallels are drawn between the St Cross frieze and other modes ofall'anticawork in France, including the celebrated Renaissance stalls from the chapel of the archiepiscopal palace at the Château de Gaillon (Eure) and the cathedral stalls at Amiens (Somme). It has also become apparent that there is no other extant work in England that directly parallels the frieze at St Cross, and that the nearest analogue is the stallwork from Gaillon.