L’héraldique dans l’espace domestique : Perspectives historiques sur les armoiries et le décor héraldique dans l’espace profane (espace germanique, xiiie–xvie siècle)

Résumé 0

Heraldry in the domestic spaceCoats of arms were a ubiquitous aspect of medieval culture, to be found in many different shapes and forms in the most public as well as in the most private spaces. Focusing on the German-speaking region from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century, this article specifically analyses the use of heraldry in the domestic sphere and questions the meaning of coats of arms in this context, the development of heraldic representations over time, and what can be learned from these changes. The study starts with a general assessment of coats of arms, their signification, their functionality as a means of communication, and their place in the domestic universe. On this basis, it considers different examples of heraldic wall paintings in secular domestic spaces in further detail. The study reveals a surprisingly chronological homogeneity in various parts of the German-speaking area, as well as a large diversity of materials and techniques being utilised in this region. In contrast to former beliefs, this study emphasises that the use of heraldry in the domestic space was not exclusively a matter of nobility and courtly culture, but rather that it was to be found most in an urban context among wealthy citizens and patricians. It ends with a new interpretation of the diversification in style and themes from the fourteenth century onwards and outlines new directions for further research by highlighting the importance of intermediality and cultural context in the understanding of these heraldic arrangements.