Faith Matters: Some art from our discussion, April 25

Art upon art, belief upon belief

The 'Palimpsest Wall' at Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome

This painting, whose earliest layer dates to the middle of the 6th century, is thought to be the earliest surviving depiction of Mary, Queen of Heaven. On top of Mary are another six layers of frescoed plaster; flaking and wear reveal fragments of each layer. This wall is known as the 'palimpsest wall' because of the exposed superimposed layers.

Pal-imp-sest: An object that shows evidence of many layers – layers of painting, layers of construction, even layers of belief. These past layers still influence the image we see today.

1. A palimpsest can be a manuscript that has been written on more than once. The original writing was washed away so the parchment or vellum could be used again. With the passing of time, faint remains of the former writing can reappear – enough so we can decipher the earlier text.

2. A palimpsest can be an object, place, or area that reflects its history. Whenever spaces are rebuilt or remodeled, evidence of former uses remain. The Tower of London - where construction began in the 11th century and continues into the 21st - is an example.

3. In religious art, a palimpsest can reflect changing beliefs over time.

Chartres Cathedral

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, about 50 miles southwest of Paris, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.

The current cathedral, mostly constructed between 1194 and 1250, is the last of at least five which have occupied the site since the town became a bishopric in the 4th century.

Since at least the 12th century the cathedral has been an important destination for travelers – and remains so to this day, attracting large numbers of Christian pilgrims, as well as large numbers of secular tourists who come to admire the cathedral's architecture and historical merit.