ICONOstalla Misericordia International (MI) is an organisation dedicated to the research on medieval choir stalls and misericords. Furthermore, MI contributes to different kinds of scientific fields, such as studies on iconography, wood sculpture techniques, secular and religious imagery and literature in order to gain a more profound understanding of beliefs and the life in the Middle Ages.
Since 1992, everyone who shares an interest in medieval misericords, choir stalls and/or medieval woodcarving and iconography can become a member of this interdisciplinary and global network. The foundation of this website provides information about literature, databases, upcoming events and current research results included in the newsletter. Previously, Misericordia International made promotion for academic sessions at the Medieval Congresses of Kalamazoo and Leeds. The foundation also organises its own biennial international congress.
Organisation
Director of ICONOstalla Misericordia International is Frédéric Billiet, Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Music at l’ Université Paris-Sorbonne. Willy Piron holds the position of secretary. He is head of the Centre of Art Historical Documentation (CKD) that is connected to the Department of Art History of the Faculty of Arts of the Radboud University in Nijmegen. The role of treasurer fulfils Veronique Pillon, Professor of Economics.
History
Founder of ICONOstalla Misericordia International was the American professor Elaine C. Block (1928-2008). Thanks to Elaine Block and her photographic and literary merits medieval misericords are now a well-established part of the international art historical research.
Foundation
Founder of ICONOstalla Misericordia International was the American professor Elaine C. Block (1928-2008). During her life as a professor, she taught at Hunter College City University of New York. She got her Ph. D. at University of Wisconsin in elementary education and while being engaged with children she developed her passion for medieval misericords. For study purposes, she travelled many times between Europe and the United States. Throughout the years of going on journeys, she saw and took pictures of probably every choir stall and misericord in Western Europe. With her expertise and knowledge, reconstruction projects could be made possible; especially when churches like the cathedral of Rouen and the cathedral at Saint-Claude (Jura) near the Swiss border suffered severe damage, her consultancy was gratefully accepted. Thanks to Elaine Block and her photographic and literary merits medieval misericords are now a well-established part of the international art historical research.
Overview of databases
The links below connect you to medieval choir stall databases and other subject-related websites.
- Stalla (Radboud University)
- Index of Christian Art (Princeton University)
- Centre François Garnier
- Musicastallis (University of Paris-Sorbonne)
- Musiconis
Keep posted on the latest activities and developments of ICONOstalla Misericordia International in our newsletter. Are you looking for a newsletter from the past years? Find it in the newsletter archive below. The documents here date back to the last three years and they are available in an English and a French version. If you want an older version of the newsletter, please contact us.