81. SANCTUARY

The sanctuary! Our eyes are drawn to the high altar, but let us first look at the side furnishings. At extreme left is a very old sedilia and pulpit, hand painted in the style we are now familiar with. Beyond is the dark stained screen of the Leschman chantry, with its guardian figure. On the right side at the back is a newer set of sedilia. And at extreme right we see the screen of the Ogle Chantry which we have already explored. We look now at the old sedilia at left.    INDEX

82. SEDILIA

Sedilia are the ceremonial seats of the priest, deacon, and subdeacon, usually placed to the South of the altar. Examples of surviving wooden medieval sedilia are very rare. This early 15th century sedilia at Hexham is of special interest because of the hand painting, and the placing around the old pulpit.

83. SEDILIA PAINTINGS

There are seven painted figures across the top of this sedilia. Thse represent Bishops of Hexham. Wilfrid is third from the left. This was originally the reredos, and is not connected (except now physically) to the panels below. 

84. DANCE OF DEATH

Below the top row are four more painted panels, usually known as ‘The Dance of Death’. This was a popular theme in the fifteenth century. Death is shown in the left hand panel dancing to a cardinal (picture right). To the right are king, emperor and pope. “As I am so shall you be” whatever your station in life is the message.This was a popular theme in the fifteenth century. Death is shown in the left hand panel panel dancing to a cardinal. The further panels to the right show a king, an emperor and a pope.

85. OLD PULPIT

The old pulpit with paintings of the disciples. For close-up views and identification of the disciples in this bottom row, click / tap on Sedilia Disciples.

86. HIGH ALTAR

Finally we come to the high altar with its cross and candles. Above is a simple rood cross, and also a colourful painting. [6]

87. DEL SARTO PAINTING

Andrea del Sarto (1486 – 1530) was an Italian painter. His career flourished during the High Renaissance and early Mannerism. Though highly regarded during his lifetime as an artist senza errori (‘without errors’), his renown was eclipsed after his death by that of his contemporaries, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. This is his painting ‘Madonna and Child with St Elisabeth, the Infant St John, and Two Angels’. The original hangs in The Louvre in Paris. Placing this painting above the high altar in Hexham Abbey is very dramatic in its effect, but one wonders why this particular painting was chosen. This completes our tour of Hexham Abbey. [Photograph: The Louvre]