Description
On the left and right faces of the capital are sleeping soldiers, while on the front face, an angel leads St Peter out of prison. (New Testament: Acts XII, 6-9)The soldiers are standing, but the fact that they are sleeping is shown in that their eyes are closed, their heads rest on their hands, and they are leaning on long pole-like objects (their weapons?). All wear short garments though the two on the right no heads, the ones on the left face of the capital have beards and mustaches longer have heads. On the front face of the capital, the angel is at left and Saint Peter is at right. The angel is barefoot, and has a halo and outstretched, feathered wings. He wears a long garment with a short mantel (cloak?) Though the angel’s legs and hips are pointed toward the left, his upper body and head are twisted backwards to look towards St. Peter. With his left hand, he grasps St Peter's right hand. St Peter is also barefoot, and has a halo and garments similar to those of the angel. His left hand is grasped by the angel; the right is raised in an open palmed gesture.
Note: Saints Peter and Paul figure prominently in the sculpture of Vézelay- in the central inner portal and on several capitals in the nave and narthex. Salet and Feldmen attribute this to the direct ties between Vézelay and the Papacy. Vezeley owed its allegiance directly to the Pope rather than to the Bishop of Autun, and various Popes visited Vézelay when they were in France.
Salet: Number 59
Location: North side of nave. North side of seventh arcade pier.
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