Saintly Immobility, the Gouged-Out Eye, and the Severed Breast: The Metamorphosis of St Lucy in Early Iberian Art and Literature

Beresford, Andy

Abstract

This article focuses on the representation of Saint Lucia in early Iberian art and literature, considering the extent to which its identity is subject to evolutionary procedures. In some works of art, Lucia is characterized as the saint who could not be moved by men or yoke of oxen. However, in others she is presented as the saint who went blind or, more radically, as a figure who suffers a forced mastectomy. The article argues that their example, which raises broader implications for the study of hagiography and identity in general, shows that we should avoid focusing on representations of saints that are limited exclusively to art or literature.

Citation

Beresford, A. (2024). Saintly Immobility, the Gouged-Out Eye, and the Severed Breast: The Metamorphosis of St Lucy in Early Iberian Art and Literature. Revista de poética medieval, 38, 25-56. https://doi.org/10.37536/rpm.2024.38.1.103334

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 22, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 30, 2024
• Publication Date: Jul 30, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 23, 2024
• Journal: Revista de Poética Medieval
• Print ISSN: 1137-8905
• Electronic ISSN: 2660-891X
• Publisher: Universidad de Alcalá
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Pages: 25-56
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.37536/rpm.2024.38.1.103334
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2874572