Glorious Past(s)

Frankish patrons during the Crusader era strategically manipulated biblical narratives and foundation legends to assert legitimacy, prestige, and construct identity. The study examines how biblical typology was exploited in crusader written sources and visual culture, notably through monumental works like the western lintel of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, mosaics in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and capitals from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Additionally, it explores how the Military Order of the Hospital of Saint John incorporated elaborate foundation legends into their pictorial cycles, exemplified by the mural cycle in the Hospitaller church at Emmaus (Abu-Ghosh). The research combines textual analysis with visual and monumental landscape examination to reveal the complex interplay between spirituality, art, and identity construction.

Fishhof, G. (2023). Glorious Past(s). Shaping Identities in a Holy Land, 29–124. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003291657-3