Sigillum provincialatus cum Beata Maria Virgine. A study of Seals used by Polish Dominican Provincial Superiors in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/SZ.2016.06Keywords
seal, Dominicans, provincial, the Mather of GodAbstract
Dominican documents at the State Archive in Wrocław offer an opportunity for taking a close look at seven imprints of seals used by provincial superiors during the fourteenth and fifteenth century. Another three such monuments are kept at the State Archives in Opole and Toruń. An analysis of the iconography and legends makes it possible to determine that we are dealing with four stamps. The first was at the disposal of Maciej of Cracow (I), the second – of Piotr Wasserrabe (II), the third (III) – of three provincial superiors: Andrzej Rusiniec, Jan Arnsberg and Jan Biskupiec, and the fourth (IV) – of Jan Advocati and Jakub of Bydgoszcz. All four are hagiographic, with a field featuring the Madonna and Child as well as a kneeling and praying person symbolising the provincial prior. The legend is stereotypical, making it possible for the stamp to be passed on to successors to the office. The seals remained at the disposal of several (two or three) provincial superiors, with a single stamp functioning for about 20–30 years. The provincial superiors used an official seal attached below their letters and the documents of assorted monasteries, which they attested. The corroboration of the former described the seal as: sigillum mei provincialatus. In the second instance, information about the consent of the provincial superior was included in the contents of the document and the corroboration mentioned: sigillum prioris provincialis. Only Jan Arnsberg, by way of exception, added his own formula below the basic contents. The seal of the provincial prior was attached in the middle or as the first seal to the left. The seal in question played a considerable role in the propaganda of the provincials’ power by symbolising its continuum and the unity of the given province. An analysis of the mediaeval seals of provincial superiors allows us to assert that their constant programme involved the Madonna.
References
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Opracowania
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