Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Saturday 31 December 2011

St Sylvester and the Donation of Constantine


The other day I mentioned the Donation of Constantine and as to day is the feast of its alleged recipient St Sylvester I thought I would put in a link to an introduction to this famous and influential text - it can be read here. There is an article on Pope Sylvester I here.


The Emperor Constantine gives Imperial authority and the papal tiara to Pope Sylvester I.
Note the presence of the umbrellino.
A thirteenth century fresco in the church of Santo Quattro Coronati in Rome

Image: Wikipedia

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