piece of work.
As is normal in this period, the magus is a king; his crown confirms this, and his confident pose befits his regal status. He holds his gift - a covered, chalice-like cup, which might be intended for any of the three traditional gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The other two magi, much less clear (this photograph has actually brought out more detail than is apparent in situ) are painted together in the lefthand splay of the window (photo, right). Both of them also have crowns, showing now as faint white silhouettes, and the magus on the right holds what seems to be a long whitish staff of some kind, possibly a sceptre, possibly once painted in gold and intended as the first gift, signifying earthly, monarchical authority. The other magus, in the background, has been reduced to head and shoulders only. It is hard to be sure which of these two magi the extended hand belongs to, but the gesture - of pointing out or indicating something, in this case the way to Bethlehem, is a standard one.
There is other painting on the south wall of the church, including a band of decorative work incorporating a strange, semi-human head. It is intriguing, and I will try to include it on the site, although I am not entirely convinced that it is medieval. The Doom above the chancel arch at Burton Dassett is also problematic - a palimpsest with areas of detail dating from different periods. Eve Baker noticed stylistic similarities in it to a painting at Ashby St. Ledgers in Northamptonshire, which I have yet to see.
21/12/2004