Stories in Stone: the Medieval Roof Carvings of Norwich Cathedral by Rose, Martial - 1997

New York: Thames & Hudson. New with no dust jacket. 1997. Softcover. The magnificent roof bosses of the Norwich Cathedral are one of the great hidden glories of medieval art. There are more than 1, 000 of these delightfully carved and painted keystones in the high stone vaulting, dating from 1300 to 1515 and measuring between eight and twenty-four inches wide. The vast majority are figure carvings uniquely linked together in storytelling patterns, reflecting a variety of pagan, Christian, and folk subjects. In quantity and quality, Norwich's bosses are among the most impressive in Europe, while their narrative arrangement makes them unparalleled in the medieval world. This book reproduces the most striking and interesting examples, selected from the hundreds of exquisite photographs taken by the distinguished photographer Julia Hedgecoe, under the auspices of the cathedral. They are introduced and fully described in a lively text by one of Norwich's foremost medieval historians, Martial Rose. 144 pages including a bibliography, listing of illustrations and an index. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. .