Title of Work
Nave Capital 6: Profane music. View from the right
Begin Date
1120
End Date
1138
Description
The central face of the capital contains a musician who plays a pipe-like instrument. It is bending toward a demon at right. The musician has a short garment and a hair style that is short in the front and long in the back. From his belt hangs a stringed instrument. Between him and the demon is a large foliate shape object whose front is covered with small round objects (grapes? A compound flower?) The demon is on the right corner of the capital, with its body turned toward the left return, but whose face is turned back, toward the musician. It has a large head with a small, animal like nose, a twisted mouth, and wild locks of hair (flames??) Out of its ears and between its legs are thin tapering forms (snakes?) The right face of the capital shows the body of the demon with its arm extended, caressing the breast of a nude woman who bowed head and hands clasped in front of her of the crotch. Salet says that she is so enraptured by the music that she does not realize she is being fondled by a demon. Alternate search terms (See text above for synonyms): devil, serpent, naked
Country
France
Location
Vézelay
Monument
Ste. Marie-Madeleine
Style
Romanesque
Type of Work
Sculpture
Subtype of Work
Capital
Category of Work
Nave
Material
Stone
Subjects
Vézelay (Abbey)--Pictorial works.; Sculpture--France--Vézelay--Pictorial works.; Church architecture--France--Vézelay--Pictorial works.; Architecture, Romanesque--France--Vézelay--Pictorial works.
Patron
Abbot Renaud de Semur
Condition
Somewhat restored
Bibliography
Photographer
JV
Copyright
Media
Slide-35 mm
Identifier
FVEZ.CAPITAL.NAVE.N006.1

Vézelay: Benedictine Abbey of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Church

Nave Capital 6: Profane music. View from the right

(FVEZ.CAPITAL.NAVE.N006.1)
size