Corpus of Medieval Misericords in France, XIII-XVI Century

Book excerpt: Block (emerita, City University of New York), following 30 years of patient research, presents an impressive catalogue of 3287 examples of historiated misericords in France. The catalogue documents the carvings under these small mobile choir seats, which are hinged so they can be raised to provide standing space, revealing the carving beneath. Block's introduction describes the history of the misericord and its study. The entries provide details about the church's choir and other choir stalls then discusses the misericord's appearance, provenance, and condition. For churches that still have a substantial number, Block discusses the sculptural program of the misericords. Each misericord is reproduced in a b&w plate of excellent quality. Distributed by the David Brown Book Company. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).