Medieval visions of the Godhead: Peter Lombard's commentary on Psalm 109

This dissertation explores the relationship between image and text as it was affected by Western theological discourse during the later Middle Ages. The case study chosen for examination is the “Commentary on Psalm 109” composed in Paris by the theologian Peter Lombard circa 1138. A number of manuscripts of this work survive in France that include unique illustrations of the Christian Godhead accompanying the text of the psalm and its commentary. The aim of this project is to acknowledge the theological issues identified by the author in his explanation of Psalm 109, and to explain subsequently how those issues affected the composition of the accompanying illustrations.;The dissertation examines initially the tradition of written commentary on the Psalms, beginning in the New Testament and following through to the early Middle Ages. The Christian perspective of Psalm 109 had identified key theological issues in the text, particularly the relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. A brief survey of Christian imagery relative to the Godhead follows, in order to reveal the solutions achieved by artists in their practice of visualizing the divine Persons. The context for the composition of Peter Lombard's “Commentary on Psalm 109” is then explored through an examination of the development of theology in Paris during the twelfth century. This allows for the explanation of contentious issues such as the nature of Christ and the Trinity as well as Peter Lombard's personal theological viewpoint, all of which affected the composition of the imagery included in the manuscripts. Finally, developments in theological education in Paris during the thirteenth century and the situation of Peter Lombard's works in that context are examined, along with the “standardization” of biblical illustration which ultimately situated an image of the Christian Trinity in accompaniment to Psalm 109.