Embroidered Treasures from the Middle Ages at Anagni Cathedral, Italy
Lecturer: Jessica Grimm
Live Lecture Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025 1PM Eastern
Live Lecture Registration: June 19 – July 10, 2025 1PM Eastern
Format: Live Lecture
Once the summer residence of the Popes, the quiet hilltop town of Anagni in Italy houses a remarkable treasure: the medieval embroidered vestments of Anagni Cathedral. The presence of the Popes ensured that the Cathedral was gifted precious embroidered vestments. And it just so happened to be that Opus anglicanum was en vogue at the time. A beautiful chasuble featuring St Nicolas, a cope with the Life of Mary and a cope with Saints are at the core of the treasury. But there is much more! We will explore all the essential pieces through the many pictures I took during my October 2024 visit. Embroidered eye-candy at its best.
Dr. Jessica Grimm gained a doctorate in archaeozoology before she re-trained as a professional embroideress with the Royal School of Needlework. After visiting a medieval embroidery exhibition in the Netherlands in 2015, she embarked on a self-funded research project focused on the embroidery techniques used in these pieces. The results of which are disseminated through her weekly blog and in the embroidery courses she teaches.
