What a Piece of Work is a Man - Part I - The Social Order

What a Piece of Work is a Man - Part I - The Social Order:

Part I: The Social Order

Medieval society was generally classed into three social orders—Oratores, bellatores, laboratores—as expressed in the words of Gerard of Cambrai: “from the beginning, mankind has been divided into three parts, among men of prayer, farmers, and men of war . . .” Added to this organization is the concept of society divided into two parts: the aristocracy—which included the ruler, nobles, and the higher clergy—and peasantry, which constituted everybody else.

These manuscripts demonstrate how artists physically characterized and differentiated the separate orders. Nobility and rulership are conveyed by luxurious clothing, opulent jewels, a regal bearing, and sometimes a larger size with relation to other figures in a composition. The clergy are mainly identified by the vestments of their rank, but can often be arranged in hierarchical order, with the most important rank placed at the top. The fighters—soldiers and knights—can be distinguished by weapons and armor. A soldier-king rode at the head of battle, wearing a crown on his head, with glorious banners and colorful horse trappings proclaiming his exalted status. Tournament knights faced off against each other wearing the colors and heraldic emblems of their family. Peasants, however, are usually visually classified as coarse and uncouth, depicted barefooted and barelegged, often with brutish facial features, dressed in simple garments, and performing menial tasks."