Resumen de The Precious Stones of Heavenly Jerusalem in the Medieval Book Illustration and Their Comparison with the Wall Incrustation in St. Wenceslas Chapel
The art historians have traditionally considered St. Wenceslas Chapel of St. Vitus' Cathedral in Prague Castle the image of Heavenly Jerusalem. This theory proved legitimate also in the study discussing the symbolism of the precious stones incrustation adorning the cycle of paintings of the Redemption story in the lower part of all the chapel walls. The identification of precious stones with Christ, with the saints and martyrs does not, however, exclude the possibility that the chapel was meant as a reliquary. It is therefore necessary to search for new parallels in medieval literature and art to the precious stones adorning the chapel to be able to endorse the former or the latter theory, or, eventually, look for a new explanation.
