“Here’s the response I received to my inquiry about the Becket Tunic – there has been something published – talk about esoteric, an English saint’s relic in Italy, examined by a German expert, and the report in a hard-to-find Italian Art Journal, written in Italian by said German expert, no less. (Note to self -hopelessly outclassed…)
“I’m no expert at Italian, (stifle laughing please) but I think the title reads: The ‘tunicella’ of Thomas Becket in Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Religion and art surrounding a saintly ‘politician’.
“I’ll be trying to get a copy on ILL – no local copies of 1995 Arte Medievale (sounds like a cool journal tho) in Oregon or Washington State. I did respond with the simple question: do you think it authentic to the 12th century? I hope she answers and will keep
you all up to date.
~ Katrine
Ursula Nilgen writes:
Dear Katherine Barich,
I published my (and Dr. Leonie von Wilckens’) research on Becket’s “tunicella” in the treasury of S.Maria Maggiore, Rome, in Italian language under the title:
La “tunicella” di Tommaso Becket in S.Naria Maggiore a Roma. Culto e arte intorno a un santo “politico”,
in: Arte medievale, II Serie, Anno IX, n. 1, Roma 1995, pp. 105-120.You will find this periodical in the libraries of important universities in U.S.A.
With kind regards, Ursula Nilgen
~ Katrine / Katherine Barich
Message #372, November 21, 2002
“I’ve had a response back on the tunic from Dr. Nilgen. She says that she believes that the tunic was worn by Thomas Becket, not at the moment of his murder though, and that Dr. Leonie Wilckens believed it authentic from a textile point of view. It is a complex argument, she says, and outlined in the article. I can’t wait to see it now!”
~ Katrine / Katherine Barich
Message #385, November 24, 2002