Norwich Roof Boss #4

Norwich Roof Boss #4 - Eroticdreambattle — LiveJournal

Tony Grist

[	userinfo	\|	livejournal userinfo	]
[	archive	\|	journal archive	]

Norwich Roof Boss #4	[Sep. 10th, 2019\|09:58 am] Tony Grist
Generally speaking the bosses that stud the spine of the cloister roof are the ones that tell a story while the ones at the edges are miscellaneous. Here's a miscellaneous one. It's a fine piece of carving. The man is lifelike, his dog is lively. I love the way it twists its head to get at his hand. The foreshortening is skilfully done. Is he anyone in particular? His costume suggests that he's Biblical rather than contemporary- but I can't think of any patriarch or prophet who comes with a dog attached. (Dogs get a bad press in the Bible.) Lazarus in the parable had his sores licked by dogs but this chap looks too spruce and neat to be Lazarus. Might he be a shepherd watching his flocks by night? He's looking up; perhaps he's seen an angel or a star. His right hand is missing; maybe it would have held something that identified him. I'm guessing. Suggestions would be welcome.
link	Reply

Comments:

From:

puddleshark
2019-09-10 10:54 am (UTC)

Another very fine boss!

Is it definitely a dog, and not a peculiar medieval lion? That might open up the field a bit.

The only other biblical dog I can remember is in the story of Tobias...

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 12:09 pm (UTC)

Medieval lions are often very peculiar but I'm pretty sure this is a dog. It has big floppy ears.

I'd forgotten about Tobias- but he was a youth setting off on an adventure and this guy is at least middle-aged.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

pondhopper
2019-09-10 11:15 am (UTC)

Hmmm...the only holy person (not biblical, though) I know who comes with a dog attached is San Roque (Saint Roch or Rock in English) A dog is his attribute. He would have been from the 1300's I'm guessing. Should look that up!

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 12:10 pm (UTC)

St Roch is a possibility- only I'd expect him to have a halo.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

pondhopper
2019-09-10 12:33 pm (UTC)

Yes. And the dog should have a piece of bread.

I've tried to find the bosses you've posted in the book I have but no luck. But there is a good amount of information about what sort of bosses are where that might shed some light at some point. The bosses that are highlighted with explanations are the spectacular ones.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 04:07 pm (UTC)

There are a lot more to come...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

mexpatriot
2019-09-10 01:20 pm (UTC)

Lazarus was my thought, too. He's always with dogs here in Mexico. There is a particular shrine where people are always leaving stuffed dogs (not real dogs). But this figure looks like he might be trying to hide or keep something from the dog. Hard to say.

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 04:08 pm (UTC)

Stuffed dogs- that's sweet!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

mexpatriot
2019-09-11 06:01 pm (UTC)

It is sweet. :)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

lblanchard
2019-09-10 02:33 pm (UTC)

It looks like a thief to me -- the sack over his shoulder, the furtive side-eye. And perhaps he's fending off a watchdog. Aren't some of those bosses occasionally secular?

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

pondhopper
2019-09-10 02:36 pm (UTC)

Yes indeed. There are secular bosses. There is one of a thief stealing laundry! Don't know if Tony photographed that one or not.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 04:11 pm (UTC)

I don't believe I did. :(

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

poliphilo
2019-09-10 04:11 pm (UTC)

That's a good suggestion. I wish we knew what was in his missing right hand.

And, yes, there are secular bosses...