The Corpus of Medieval Misericords (XIII-XXVI) consists
of five volumes; the first four focus on the misericords and
related choir stall carvings in specific regions of Europe. The
fifth includes an extensive iconographic index of themes common to
various countries as well as themes that are unique to a single
country.
Volume III of this series, Medieval Misericords in Belgium
and the Netherlands, covers the churches in the Low Countries
that still contain gothic misericords with carved figures and
narratives inspired by oral traditions such as proverbs and folk
tales, as well as by manuscript marginalia, romanesque capitals,
illustrated bibles, engravings, playing cards... A vast portrayal
of medieval life - rural activities, urban occupations, conjugal
relationships, monastic life - is displayed in these carvings under
the seats of choir stalls along with costumes of the times, town
and collegiate architecture, mechanical devices.