<Frontispiece of Bede’s Life

Of the many Anglo-Saxon kings of England’s various, and later united, kingdoms, Athelstan (r. 924-939) was a monarch of many important firsts. Although he successfully built upon a foundation laid by his father, Edward the Elder, and grandfather, the famous Alfred the Great, King Athelstan is credited as the first English king to successfully unite all Anglo-Saxon-speaking peoples on the island, identifying himself conspicuously as King of all Britain on his coinage in the 930s. His patronage was, unsurprisingly, vigorously sought by laymen and churchmen alike, and, likely through the intercession of a small monastic community temporarily living at Chester-le-Street in northern England, he became particularly interested in St. Cuthbert, a 7th-century figure who was famous for his holy life, his miracles, and his incorrupt body.

在许多盎格鲁-撒克逊国王的各种后来统一的王国中，在许多身份显赫的国王中，雅典斯坦（r.924-939）是至高无上的君主。虽然他的成功地建立在他父亲爱德华·长老和著名的阿尔弗雷德大帝奠定的基础之上，但阿塞尔斯坦国王还是被认为是第一位成功地将岛上所有讲盎格鲁-撒克逊语的人联合起来的英国国王，在930年代，所有的英国人都能在铸币上看到这位引人注目的不列颠的国王。不出所料，他的资助受到了门外汉和教士的大力追捧，而且很可能是由于英国北部切斯特街的一个小修道院社区的影响，他对圣·卡斯伯特产生了特别的兴趣。卡斯伯特是一个7世纪的人物，以他的圣洁生活、他施行的奇迹和他的廉洁的身体而闻名。

According to a chronicler writing in the early 12th century, King Athelstan visited the Chester-le-Street monks to ask for St. Cuthbert’s blessing in the 930s, and he “gave [the saint] for the adornment of his church, many different kinds of gifts worthy of a king.” Among these precious donations was the book that contains this image, an illuminated manuscript of the story of St. Cuthbert’s life written by Bede. The frontispiece of this manuscript features King Athelstan, bowing in supplication, presenting this book to the saint himself standing before his church and offering his support. Eagerly accepted by the community, and likely on display there in the medieval period, this image is the first portrait of any English king in existence today, displaying King Athelstan’s wealth and power while also emphasizing his humility before God’s holy witness.

根据12世纪早期的编年史家的记载，雅典斯坦国王在930年代拜访了切斯特街的僧侣，请求圣卡斯伯特的祝福，他“为了教堂的装饰，他赠送了许多不同种类的珍宝作为国王的恩赐。”在这些珍贵的捐赠中，有一本包含这个图像的书，一本由比德写的圣卡斯伯特生平的照明手稿。手稿的卷首突出了阿西尔斯坦国王，在祈祷中鞠躬，把这本书呈献给站在他的教堂前的圣人本人，并表示他的支持。这幅肖像画得到了社会的广泛认可，很可能在中世纪就有展出，它是历史上英国国王的第一幅肖像画，展示了阿西尔斯坦国王的财富和权力，同时也强调了他在上帝的神圣见证下的谦卑。

- Stephanie Skenyon

－斯蒂芬妮·斯基宁

画作名称的翻译小编  实 在 是  找不到中文资料啦！就暂且凭着这个神  秘 的 语感翻了一下，要是哪位路过的大 神 ！！知道它叫啥～不妨拿“专头”拍我啊～～