GOLDEN LEGEND BY JACOBUS DA VORAGINE

(Legenda Aurea)

Jacobus da Voragine'sGolden Legendis a collection he compiled in c. 1260 of legends of the saints worshiped during the Middle Ages. Its importance lies in the fact that it provides a glimpse of popular medieval religious thought. That theGolden Legendwas read widely is attested by the approximately 900 manuscripts to have survived. With the introduction of the printing press, it became the most often printed book in Europe until the early 16th century. It has been suggested that theGolden Legendmay have contributed to theReformationbecause it revealed that many of the lives of the saints follow a formulaic narration. This led some to not only question whether these legends are in fact true but also, therefore, the validity of sainthood as taught by the Catholic Church. For artists, the text provided a source for the depiction of saints, their stories, and attributes.