Pavel Kalina

The Last Judgement of Rožmberk: Vision, Fear, and Mandala. Symbolism in the Late Middle Ages

The relief of the Last Judgement from Rožmberk, dated to 1493, was formerly called Fourteen Holy Ministrants - who are pictured in the painting instead of the traditional The twenty-four Elders. Pavel Kalina clarifies the roots of such a portrayal, which is probably related to a cult of the time that advocated adoration of a group of holy helpers of mankind simultaneously. This cult was spread primarily by Cisterians and thus it is possible that the exceptional iconography of the relief from Rožmberk was inspired by someone from the staff of the convent in Vyšší Brod.

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