EARLY FRANCISCAN PAINTED PANELS AS A RESPONSE TO THE ITALIAN CATHARS _____________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _____________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy _____________________________ by REBECCA ANNE HERTLING RUPPAR Dr. Anne Rudloff Stanton, Dissertation Supervisor JULY 2020 © Copyright by Rebecca A.H. Ruppar, 2020. All rights reserved. The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled EARLY FRANCISCAN PAINTED PANELS AS A RESPONSE TO THE ITALIAN CATHARS presented by Rebecca Anne Hertling Ruppar, a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. _________________________________________ Professor Anne Rudloff Stanton _________________________________________ Professor Jill Raitt _________________________________________ Professor Marcus Rautman _________________________________________ Professor Alisa McCusker DEDICATION Thank you to my dad who believed in me before I believed in myself and my mom who taught me to look for beauty and find it in unexpected places… To my brothers and sister for laughing with me through the process… And especially to my husband, Todd, and my sons, Paul and Edward, for their immeasurable love, boundless patience, and unwavering encouragement. I could not have achieved my dream without you. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dissertation committee: Jill Raitt, whose personal and academic brilliance challenged and inspired me, Marcus Rautman, whose enthusiasm and humor introduced me to the joys of looking further back and turning my attention to the East, Alisa McCusker, whose understanding of material artifacts motivated deeper exploration, and especially to my advisor and confidant Anne Rudloff Stanton, whose rich knowledge and skillful counsel expanded my thinking and guided my writing with unfailing patience, incomparable wit, and gentle encouragement. I am grateful to the John D. Bies International Travel Scholarship and the Edzard Baumann Memorial Travel Award, for their support of my research in Italy and France. The following people also contributed generously to my work there: Pierpaolo Mangani, Abbondio Zuppante, Adele Breda, Silvia Milana, Donatella Vaccari, Rosella Cavigli, Alessandro Benci, Iane Donnini, Elena Pinzauti, Sara Sabbatini, Precious Osayi, Claudia Timossi, Cinzia Pini, Lisa DiZanni, Fr. Stephen McMichael, O.F.M. Conv., Fr. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv., Noël and Mia Devisch, and the Poor Clare sisters of the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................... ii List of Figures……………………………………………………………....v Abstract…………………………………………………………………….xi Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 The State of the Field .................................................................................................... 5 Scholarship on the Artwork ........................................................................................ 6 Scholarship on the Cathars........................................................................................ 14 Scholarship on the Franciscans ................................................................................. 27 Chapter 1: Heresy and Reform .................................................................... 33 The Religious and Historical Context ....................................................................... 33 Catharism in Italy ....................................................................................................... 47 Response of the Church .............................................................................................. 50 Francis of Assisi, Founding Brother.......................................................................... 54 The Fourth Lateran Council Addresses Heresy ...................................................... 56 Chapter 2 Art and Materiality ...................................................................... 61 Cathars and Materiality ............................................................................................. 61 The Artistic Context of the Early Franciscans ......................................................... 66 The History and Spiritual Depth of Wood-Panel Paintings ................................... 69 Chapter 3: Icons of Francis as Orthodox Exemplar in Opposition to the Cathar Perfecti ............................................................................................. 87 Francis as Orthodox Preacher in Contrast to the Cathar Perfecti ......................... 97 Francis as Alter Christus Manifested in the Stigmata ............................................ 111 Chapter 4. Vita Dossals as a Response to the Cathar Heresy .................. 121 Scenes of Physical Healing ....................................................................................... 128 Incarnation and Real Presence in the Eucharist .................................................... 136 Nature in the Vita Dossals ........................................................................................ 141 iii Chapter 5 Countering Heresy through the Theology and Materiality of the Painted-Panel Crucifixes .................................................................... 153 The Original Franciscan Cross and its Environs ................................................... 161 Byzantine Framework .............................................................................................. 166 The Crucifixes and the Early Franciscan Texts ..................................................... 172 Focus on the Doctrine of the Incarnation ............................................................... 175 Eucharistic Emphasis ............................................................................................... 183 Companions at the Cross.......................................................................................... 188 Tortured Physicality ................................................................................................. 195 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 204 Bibliography ................................................................................................. 209 Primary Sources ........................................................................................................ 209 Secondary Sources .................................................................................................... 210 Appendices .................................................................................................... 241 Appendix 1 Fourth Lateran Council: Canon 3 on Heresy (1215) ........................ 241 Appendix 2 Relevant text of On the Reduction of the Arts to Theology, Bonaventure............................................................................................................... 242 Appendix 3 The Manger He Made in Celebration of the Lord’s Birthday, Thomas of Celano, Vita Prima Chapter XXX ...................................................................... 244 Appendix 4 The Account of the Nativity at Greccio, Bonaventure, Legenda Maior Chapter X .................................................................................................................. 246 Appendix 5 The First Admonition, The Body of Christ, Francis of Assisi .......... 248 Appendix 6 The Canticle of the Creatures, Francis of Assisi ............................... 249 Appendix 7 Sermon to the Birds, Thomas of Celano, Vita Prima Chapter XXI . 251 Appendix 8 Sermon to the Birds, Bonaventure, Legenda Maior Chapter XII .... 252 Appendix 9 The Spirit of Charity and the Feeling of Compassion for the Poor that Glowed in Him for What He Did with the Sheep and the Lambs, Thomas of Celano, Vita Prima Chapter XXVIII ...................................................................... 253 Appendix 10 Relevant Bibliography for Artwork ................................................. 262 Vita…………………………………………………………………………………….275 iv List of Figures Chapter 2 Art and Materiality .................................................................... 221 Figure 2.1 Maestro del Crocifisso di Gualdo Tadino, Crocifisso con San Francesco (verso), Museo Civico Rocca Flea, Gualdo Tadino ................................................ 221 Figure 2.2 Maestro del Crocifisso di Gualdo Tadino, Crocifisso con San Francesco (verso, detail of fabric underlayer between boards), Museo Civico Rocca Flea, Gualdo Tadino ......................................................................................................... 221 Figure 2.3 Expressionist Master of Santa Chiara, Cristo Crocifisso, Chiesa Museo di San Francesco, Montefalco (detail showing fabric underlayer between wood and gesso) ................................................................................................................... 222 Figure 2.4 Maestro del San Francesco di Orte, San Francesco e Quattro Scene (detail of moldings), Museo d'Arte Sacra di Orte .................................................. 222 Figure 2.5 Guido di Graziano (Guido of Siena), San Francesco e Storie della sua Vita (detail, compass guided,