Confessionals

Difficult to find images of confessionals from the 15th century, perhaps because although confessional boxes were in use in some places after the year 1215, various places were still practicing face-to-face confession (ie; the Netherlands for one) until the 17th century:

"It would appear that during the Middle Ages no special structures were considered necessary for the sacrament of penance, apart from the use of side chapels. From the 17th century, however, wooden structures were installed to allow privacy for confession, with compartments for the priest and penitent separated by a grille for conversation". (http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T017565pg4?print=true).

Therefore I suppose it will be the discretion of our team regarding whether or not a structured confession box will be built? Because I mean, in some depictions a confessional isn't used (ie: Joan of Arc, 1999) and in some they are (ie: The Messenger, 1999).

Here's a clip of Joan in a Confessional from The Messenger:

http://www.crackle.com/c/the-messenger-the-story-of-joan-of-arc/i-need-to-confess/2487543

Check here for some stock photos of confessional boxes:
  http://www.superstock.com/search/CONFESSIONAL%20BOX


 A description of a traditional confessional from wikipedia:

"The priest and penitent are in separate compartments and speak to each other through a grid or lattice. A crucifix is sometimes hung over the grille. The priest will usually sit in the middle and the penitents will enter the compartments to either side of him. The priest can close off the other compartment by a sliding screen so that only one person will be confessing at a time. Kneelers are provided in the compartments on each side of the priest, sometimes a prie-dieu style kneeler, or sometimes a diagonal kneeler built into the walls of the confessional. Confessions and conversations are usually whispered. Sometimes a confessional will be built into the church walls and have separate doors for each compartment; other confessionals can be free-standing structures where curtains are used to conceal penitents (and even the priest in some confessionals) from the rest of the church." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessional)


And here are a few images; hope they will be useful!

Traditional Confessional in Saint-Thiébaut Church, Thann, France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Collegiale-Thann-p1010106.jpg

English Confessional Box carved from wood in 1730
http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2012/07/a-cool-mine-on-hot-day.html

 17th Century Spanish Confessional
http://www.salvoweb.com/news-3.html#75561

 Traditional confessional in the church Gesù Nuovo, Naples, Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Confessionals_-_Beichtst%C3%BChle_-_Gesu_Nuovo_-_Neapel_-_Naples_.JPG