The cosmatesque mosaics of Westminster Abbey : the pavements and royal tombs : history, archaeology, architecture and conservation

Westminster Abbey contains the only surviving medieval Cosmatesque mosaics outside Italy. They comprise: the 'Great Pavement' in the sanctuary; the pavement around the shrine of Edward the Confessor; the saint's tomb and shrine; Henry III's tomb; the tomb of a royal child, and some other pieces. Surprisingly, the mosaics have never before received detailed recording and analysis, either individually or as an assemblage. 0The proposed publication, in two volumes, will present a holistic study of this outstanding group of monuments in their historical architectural and archaeological context. The shrine of St Edward is a remarkable survival, having been dismantled at the Dissolution and re-erected (incorrectly) in 1557 under Queen Mary. Large areas of missing mosaic were replaced with plaster on to which mosaic designs were carefully painted. This 16th-century fictive mosaic is unique in Britain. Conservation of the sanctuary pavement was accompanied by full archaeological recording with every piece of mosaic decoration drawn and coloured by David Neal, phase plans have been prepared, and stone-by-stone examination undertaken, petrologically identifying and recording the locations of all the materials present. It has revealed that both the pavements and tombs include a range of exotic stone types. The Cosmati study has shed fresh light on every aspect of the unique series of monuments in Westminster Abbey; this work will fill a major lacuna in our knowledge of 13th-century English art of the first rank, and will command international interest. Westminster Abbey contains the only surviving medieval Cosmatesque mosaics outside Italy. They the Great Pavement in the sanctuary; the pavement around the shrine of Edward the Confessor; the saints tomb and shrine; Henry IIIs tomb; the tomb of a royal child, and some other pieces. Surprisingly, the mosaics have never before received detailed recording and analysis, either individually or as an assemblage. The proposed publication, in two volumes, will present a holistic study of this outstanding group of monuments in their historical architectural and archaeological context. The shrine of St Edward is a remarkable survival, having been dismantled at the Dissolution and re-erected (incorrectly) in 1557 under Queen Mary. Large areas of missing mosaic were replaced with plaster on to which mosaic designs were carefully painted. This 16th-century fictive mosaic is unique in Britain. Conservation of the sanctuary pavement was accompanied by full archaeological recording with every piece of mosaic decoration drawn and colored by David Neal, phase plans have been prepared, and stone-by-stone examination undertaken, petrologically identifying and recording the locations of all the materials present. It has revealed that both the pavements and tombs include a range of exotic stone types. The Cosmati study has shed fresh light on every aspect of the unique series of monuments in Westminster Abbey; this work will fill a major lacuna in our knowledge of 13th-century English art of the first rank, and will command international interest. Table of Contents The Pavements List of figures Foreword by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster Preface Acknowledgements Summary 1. The cosmatesque pavements and introduction and context Historical and architectural context The mosaic assemblage 2. Historiography and the antiquarian record Early references, 1269 c . 1700 Descriptions and illustrations of the pavements and monuments, 17071925 The pavements and monuments in recent scholarship 3. The sanctuary and high altar past interventions, damage and repair Paving the an historical overview The cosmatesque sanctuary pavement Installation of the Whitehall altarpiece, 170607 Sir George Gilbert Scotts restoration of the sanctuary, 185971 4. Description of the sanctuary pavement Purbeck marble matrix Detailed description of the decoration The frame inscriptions Early repairs to the Cosmati pavement by Paul Drury construction, alteration and repair 5. Surveying, analyzing and evaluating the sanctuary and high altar pavements Preparatory studies Condition and conservation trials, 199398 by Vanessa Simeoni Ground-penetrating radar surveys, 2004-05 by Erica Carrick Utsi The archaeology beneath the an assessment 6. Conservation and repair of the sanctuary pavement by Vanessa Simeoni Introduction Recording and the sanctuary pavement archive Materials in the pavement Cleaning Laser cleaning Removal of cement patching Purbeck deterioration and treatment Stone damage and treatment Glass tesserae Restoration of the western border panel Case the central medallion Surface finish Conclusions and post-conservation care 7. St Edward the Confessors chapel pavement Past interventions and damage The Purbeck marble matrix Detailed description of the pavement Ground-penetrating radar surveys of the high altar and St Edwards chapel pavements, 2005 by Erica Carrick Utsi The archaeology beneath the chapel floor 8. Materials employed in the pavements and monuments Antiquarian petrology The stone types by Kevin Hayward analysis of samples from the sanctuary pavement by Ian Freestone Metals employed in the pavements and monuments Analysis of mastic resin on the sanctuary pavement by Ruth Siddall Analysis of the paste-inlaid tesserae by Ruth Siddall Mortars used in the sanctuary pavement by Ruth Siddall Notes to chapters 1 to 8 Plans 1 and 2 (fold-outs at end of volume) VOLUME 2 The Monuments 9. St Edwards chapel and the context of the shrine Introduction Chronology of St Edwards enshrinement Evolving topography of St Edwards chapel Monuments in the post-medieval interventions and antiquarian investigations Impact of pilgrims and tourists on the chapel and its monuments 10. The shrine-tomb of St Edward the Confessor, description and primary fabric Introduction General description of the shrine-tomb Detailed descriptions of the components Reconstructing the original form of the shrine-tomb Method of construction and assembly The primary an assessment 11. The shrine-tomb of St Edward the Confessor, Tudor reconstruction and overall assessment The feretory canopy ( co-operculum ) Shrine of St historical context of its Tudor reconstruction Abbot Feckenhams reconstruction of the shrine pedestal and altar, 1557 Accident and intervention, 1685-86 St Edwards coffins Concluding assessment 12. Tomb of King Henry III Introduction and antiquarian descriptions Architectural form of the tomb Detailed description of the mosaic decoration Later interventions 13. Childs tomb in the south ambulatory Identity of the tomb and its occupants Date and primary location of the tomb Relocation of the tomb in the south ambulatory The tomb-chest Detailed description of the decoration Discussion 14. Related monuments St Edwards shrine altar Detached architectural fragments The high altar and the Westminster Retable The de Valence tombs Inscription fragment in the floor of St Edwards chapel 15. The Westminster mosaic summary, assessment and dating Luxury paving and mosaic Westminster in context The sanctuary and its pavements St Edward the Confessors chapel and its pavement St Edwards shrine-tomb and altar Henry III and his shrine-tomb Other tombs Chronology of the Westminster Cosmati episode Appendices 1. The shrine of Edward the Confessor in the records by Matthew Payne Archival references Chronicles 2. Quantification of tesserae in the mosaic pavements and monuments Notes to chapters 9 to 16 Plan 3 (fold-out at end of volume) Abbreviations and bibliography Index Of proposed phasing -- Notes on the characteristics of each phase -- Early repairs to the Cosmati pavement by Paul Drury -- Phase 2: repairs in sympathy with the primary mosaic work -- Phase 2-3: various interventions, probably between Phases 2 and 3 -- Phase 3: introduction of new designs and more stone types, probably c. 1660-62 -- Phase 4: interventions related to reordering the sanctuary, 1706-07 -- 5 Surveying, analyzing and evaluating the sanctuary and high altar pavements -- Preparatory studies -- Ground-penetrating radar surveys, 2004-05 by Erica Carrick Utsi -- Some GPR basics