| ITALIAN SITES VISITED BY MARGERY KEMPE:
ASSISI
In chapter 31 of her Book Margery Kempe
describes how she leaves Venice and journeys to Assisi. There she visits
the basilica of St. Francis:
Upon a tyme as this creatur was
in cherche at Assyse, ther was schewyd owyr Ladys kerche whech sche weryd
her in erth wyth gret lygth and gret reverens. Than this creatur had gret
devocyon. Sche wept, sche sobbyd, sche cryed wyth gret plenté of
teerys and many holy thowtys. Sche was ther also on Lammes Day, whan ther
is gret pardon of plenyr remyssyon, for to purchasyn grace, mercy, and
forgevenes for hirself, for alle hir frendys, for alle hir enmys, and for
alle the sowlys in purgatory.
(Once this creature was at the church
of Assisi, there she was shown our Lady’s headscarf which she herself wore
here on earth, displayed with great attention and reverence. Than the creature
was moved to great devotion; she wept, she sobbed, and she cried with plenteous
tears and many holy thoughts. She was also present there on Lammas Day
when the great pardon of plenary remission may be gained, so that I was
able to obtain grace and mercy and forgiveness not only for herself but
for all her friends and her enemies and the souls in Purgatory.)
And ther was a lady was comyn fro Rome
to purchasyn hir pardon. Hir name was Margaret Florentyne and sche had
wyth hir many Knygtys of Roodys, many gentylwomen, and mekyl good caryage.
In Assisi Kempe encounters the woman called
Margaret Florentine who was accompanied by many knights of Rhodes and many
gentlewomen; she agrees to allow Kempe and the hunchback Richard to accompany
her back to Rome.
Monuments in Assisi
The
Basilica of St Francis
-
Lower Chapel with tomb
of Francis, relics of the Virgin, Frescos of the Life of Christ, including
a Magdalen Chapel where Giotto and his followers depicted the main events
from the life of Mary Magdalen with a moving image of Mary Magdalen and
Christ after the Resurrection. (Noli me Tangere) and Simoni Martini's
frescos of the Life of St. Martin executed between 1318 and 1339
-
Extensive images of the frescos in the upper
part of the basilica by Giotto on the Life
of St Francis (about 1300). Based on the Francis's life as recounted
by St. Bonaventure
Basilica
of St. Clare: See, in particular, a 13th-century panel painting showing
episodes of the life of St. Clare and a 12th-century crucifix typical of
the art that Kempe would have seen. This crucifix is believed to have spoken
to St. Francis while he was praying at St. Damian’s. The crucifix was brought
to the basilica of St. Clare by the Poor Clares. Facade
of building.
Art
of Giotto part of the Christusrex Website. Extensive survey of frescos
in Padua and Florence as well as Assisi |
