Medieval craftsmen: masons and sculptors (review)

190 Reviews It would require more space than is available here and more expertise in medieval Spanish literature than I possess to effectively evaluate this thesis, but I am myself convinced it is along therightlines and wtil have to be considered by any scholar interested in either the Poem ofthe Cid or in medieval vernacular poetic composition in general. The emphasis upon dialectical structures is an essential extension of the rhetorical perspective which I, for one, have insisted upon (cf. p. 172 n. 2), even if, at times, one has the impression that Burke might be drawing a long bow (for example, in ch. 5). However, Burke has certainly driven home Smith's essential point that the Poem of the Cid is far removed from 'the antiquated modes of the epic' (p. 153). There are, in places, interesting suggestions that the recently published work of Bernadette Masters can only confirm (Esthitique et manuscripture: le 'moulin a paroles' au moyen dge [Heidelberg, Winter, 1992]). One also has the feeling throughout that the sort of work Burke has done is essential to demonstrate the now often repeated point that medieval composers were much influenced by formal study of the arts of the trivium. The secondary literature cited is impressive and only here and there is the reader let down For instance, is the 'Holmes' of p. 19 the same 'Holmes' cited in the bibliography at pp. 207-08? In fact it is (cited p. 25 of the Clagett volume), but perhaps a more direct reference could have been provided to Fitz Stephen's weU-known description of the London schools in the twelfth century. John O.Ward Department of History University of Sydney Coldstream, Nicola, Medieval craftsmen: masons and sculptors, London, British Museum Press, 1991; paper; pp. 72; 80 figures and plates; R.R.P. AUS$22.95 [distributed in Australia by Thames and Hudson]. Like other volumes in the Medieval craftsmen series, Nicola Coldstream's book is generously illustrated and is designed to appealfirstto the general reader and only second to the medieval specialist. With this aim in view, Coldstream takes time to dispel the popular myth of a link between the medieval mason and the m o d e m Freemason. She attempts to anticipate directions that the intelligent interest of the modern reader will take by providing m o d e m parallels for the status and duties of this important group of medieval craftsmen. She promotes the view of the master mason as roughly the equivalent of the m o d e m architect with the functions of contractor and engineer thrown in for good measure. Although a number of the illustrations represent secular buildings, the discussion centres on the building of cathedrals, perhaps because of a perception of the preeminence of these monumental religious structures in the popular mind. This emphasis on sacred buildings may be why there is an unexplained Reviews 191 and unnumbered figure showing the major features of cathedral construction on the last page of the text. The argument is soundly based on medieval documentation of expenditure on budding projects, some extensive descriptive accounts of three major projects and the surviving buildings themselves. From this there emerges a picture of the daily life of the master mason and his employees on the construction site. They were the elite of building workers, placed above lesser trades like carpenters, glaziers and plumbers. The master mason, as architect had a special relationship with his patron and was sometimes taken into his household. As employer, he also had a special relationship with the members of his workforce, having to provide them with accommodation near the site and with training and clothing. Coldstream addresses practical questions, such as the hours in the working day, the length of the budding season, rates of pay and the few financial provisions made for work related sickness and old age. Her coverage of the actual construction process is interesting in its attention to detati. It ranges from the large issues of the preparation of foundations to the minutiae of scaffolding and ladders. The discussion of the budding process tackles both conceptual and practical areas. Castles and cathedrals were different kinds of building projects...