Mission
ICONOstalla Misericordia International is an international network for the study of medieval and early modern choir stalls, misericords, woodcarving and related visual culture.
The organisation was founded in 1992 by the American scholar Elaine C. Block. Since then, it has developed into an interdisciplinary network bringing together researchers, heritage professionals, conservators and other specialists from different countries.
ICONOstalla aims to:
– promote research into choir stalls, misericords and related objects;
– encourage the documentation and preservation of this heritage;
– connect scholars and professionals working in different disciplines;
– facilitate the exchange of information, publications and research findings;
– organise international conferences and scholarly meetings;
– make specialised databases and research resources more widely accessible.
An interdisciplinary organisation
Choir stalls can be studied from many different perspectives. Their architecture, carvings, imagery, materials and liturgical functions provide valuable insights into medieval and early modern art, religion, music, craftsmanship and society.
Board
ICONOstalla Misericordia International is governed by an international board:
Chair Frédéric Billiet is professor emeritus of Medieval and Renaissance Music at Sorbonne University in Paris.
Secretary Christel Theunissen is guest researcher at the Faculty of Arts of Radboud University Nijmegen.
Treasurer Véronique Pillon is professor of Economics
General meeting
ICONOstalla Misericordia International holds a General Meeting every year. During this meeting members are informed about the organisation’s activities, finances and conferences. The General Meeting also gives members an opportunity to discuss future plans and contribute to the further development of the network.
Information about the date, location and agenda of the General Meeting is communicated to members via the newsletter and this website.
Founder
ICONOstalla Misericordia International was founded by the American scholar Elaine C. Block (1928–2008).
Block taught at Hunter College, part of the City University of New York. She obtained her PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Her early academic work focused on elementary education, but her interest in education and visual culture eventually led her to develop a lifelong passion for medieval misericords. For many years, Elaine Block travelled extensively between the United States and Europe.
During these journeys, she visited and photographed a remarkable number of medieval choir stalls and misericords throughout Western Europe. Her photographs, notes and publications created an invaluable record of this important part of medieval heritage.
Her legacy continues through the work of ICONOstalla Misericordia International and through the photographic and scholarly resources she assembled during her lifetime.