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Cottonian Education Thumbnails > History: 6B An Anglo-Saxon case study. > Scenes of Medieval Sports and Pastimes
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G. F. Storm (engr.) (fl. 1834-1851)
Scenes of Medieval Sports and Pastimes
Plate XXIV: Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. VI: a 19th century reproduction of the Luttrell (or Louterell) Psalter of 1340s, commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell of Lincolnshire.
engraving
Published: Society of Antiquaries of London, 1839
The original psalter was illustrated with historic figures and scenes of life in Medieval England. The 19th century publication was accompanied with text by John Gage Rokewode
Ref No: Sax-03
In the 1839 reproduction sheets of individual illustrations were engraved - each sheet devoted to a series of similar activities. This particular plate depicts a variety of sports and pastimes, some familiar, others less so!
The scenes include:
1. Archery - shooting at butts;
2. Defence - Sword work;
3. Breaking pitchers (or trying which head is hardest!);
4. Wrestling;
5. Wrestling - one person on top of a partner, in contest with another similar pair;
6. The Living Quintain - (explained in the 1839 notes as - a man sitting on a stool holds up a foot to the foot of an opponent who has to try and unseat the other!);
7. Walking on stilts;
8. Tricks with horses;
9. Tricks with monkeys;
10. Jugglers filling a man with water!;
11. Bear-baiting;
12. Pole-dancing or balancing.
Teacher's Notes: Images 3&4.
Both images 3 & 4, depict different sports and pastimes of the period. Some of the scenes such as archery and wrestling are easy to identify while others will require a deal of detective work, research and use of the imagination.
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