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Bells were used to call the faithful to services throughout the Middle Ages. They also marked deaths, and were even believed to ward off storms and other dangers. Although many churches had bells, few medieval examples survive because they were often recast when they were damaged or melted down so that the metal could be reused. We do not have much information about the origin of this bell, but its long, narrow shape resembles several bells known to have been made in the mid-fifteenth century in Austria. The bell has four figures in relief: Saints Peter, Paul, John the Evangelist, and Thomas. The apostles are identified by their attributes: Peter holds the keys to heaven; Paul is shown with the sword of his execution; John the Evangelist holds his sacred writings; and Thomas holds a ruler, alluding to his role as patron of architects.The founder who made the bell has signed his work with the inscription P.K. ME FECIT (PK made me), and the bell is further inscribed with the words XPS VINCIT, XPS REGNAT, XPS I[M]P[ER]AT (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules).
Page data
- Page
- 2
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 5cbcc836e224fd05
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 40263
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
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"contentType": "object",
"stage": "normalized",
"title": "Bell with Apostles",
"description": "Bells were used to call the faithful to services throughout the Middle Ages. They also marked deaths, and were even believed to ward off storms and other dangers. Although many churches had bells, few medieval examples survive because they were often recast when they were damaged or melted down so that the metal could be reused. We do not have much information about the origin of this bell, but its long, narrow shape resembles several bells known to have been made in the mid-fifteenth century in Austria. The bell has four figures in relief: Saints Peter, Paul, John the Evangelist, and Thomas. The apostles are identified by their attributes: Peter holds the keys to heaven; Paul is shown with the sword of his execution; John the Evangelist holds his sacred writings; and Thomas holds a ruler, alluding to his role as patron of architects.The founder who made the bell has signed his work with the inscription P.K. ME FECIT (PK made me), and the bell is further inscribed with the words XPS VINCIT, XPS REGNAT, XPS I[M]P[ER]AT (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules).",
"provenance": "Jules Domergue, Paris; Arnold Seligmann, Paris; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1922, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
"date": "2nd half 14th century (Medieval)",
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Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
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"label": "Bell with Apostles",
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Document source metadata
{
"id": "40263",
"sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.79",
"contentType": "object",
"stage": "normalized",
"title": "Bell with Apostles",
"description": "Bells were used to call the faithful to services throughout the Middle Ages. They also marked deaths, and were even believed to ward off storms and other dangers. Although many churches had bells, few medieval examples survive because they were often recast when they were damaged or melted down so that the metal could be reused. We do not have much information about the origin of this bell, but its long, narrow shape resembles several bells known to have been made in the mid-fifteenth century in Austria. The bell has four figures in relief: Saints Peter, Paul, John the Evangelist, and Thomas. The apostles are identified by their attributes: Peter holds the keys to heaven; Paul is shown with the sword of his execution; John the Evangelist holds his sacred writings; and Thomas holds a ruler, alluding to his role as patron of architects.The founder who made the bell has signed his work with the inscription P.K. ME FECIT (PK made me), and the bell is further inscribed with the words XPS VINCIT, XPS REGNAT, XPS I[M]P[ER]AT (Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules).",
"provenance": "Jules Domergue, Paris; Arnold Seligmann, Paris; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1922, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
"date": "2nd half 14th century (Medieval)",
"citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/54.79",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
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Document source extras
{
"cul": "Austrian",
"style": "Romanesque",
"inscriptions": [
"[Signature] Cast inscription on upper band: P.K. MEFECIT; [Translation] P. K. made me. [Transcription] Cast on upper band: +XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT XPS I[M]P[ER]AT; [Translation] Christ conquers",
"Christ reigns",
"Christ rules."
],
"med": "bronze",
"creator_ids": [
"4876"
],
"collection_ids": [
"MED"
],
"exhibition_ids": [
"3310"
]
}
Page context
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