Moissac - West Side - W15MS71

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  Moissac
West Side
W15MS71

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The Beatitudes

A sculptural transcription of a passage of the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12; Lk 6:20-23) is represented in this capital. Standing figures, dressed in tunics and mantles, raise their open hands – one to point to the inscription in the background, the other held against the breast. The personification of poverty is alone clad in a loincloth and barefoot; all the others wear footwear. The accompanying inscriptions read as follows:
On the east side: B[EAT]I PAVP[ER]ES SP[IRIT]V: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”.
B[EAT]I Q[U]I ESURIVNT: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst”.
On the north side: BEATI MITTES: “Blessed are the meek”.
B[EAT]I Q[V]I LVGENT Q[VONIAM] I[S]TI C[ON]SOLABV[NTVR: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”.
On the west (the gallery) side: B[EAT]I MISERICORDES: “Blessed are the merciful”.
B[EAT]I CORDE MUNDO: “Blessed are the pure in heart”.
On the south side: B[EAT]I PACIFICI Q[VONIAM] F[ILII] D[EI] V[OCABVNTVR]: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”.
B[EAT]I Q[V]I P[ER]SECVTIONE[M] P[ATIVNTVR]: “Blessed are those who are persecuted”.
A cloister, “harbinger of heavenly blessedness” according to Hugh of Cluny (St. Hugh the Great), is exactly the right place for this theme.
The frieze of the bevelled impost block of this capital has a peculiarity: at the centre of its two narrow sides (east and west), a small human head is placed in the medallion, instead of the usual upside-down palmette.


CORDE B[EAT]I MISERICORDES B[EATV]I C[ON]SOLABV[NTUR] I[S]TI Q[UONIAM] LUGENT Q[U]I B[EAT]I MITTES BEATI ESURIUNT Q[U]I B[EAT]I SP[IRIT]V PAVP[ER]ES B[EAT]I inscription poverty Beatitudes Sermon-on-the-Mount personification MUNDO B[EAT]I PACIFICI Q[UONIAM] F[ILII] D[EI] V[OCABUNTUR] B[EAT]I Q[U]I P[ER]SECVTIONE[M] P[ATIUNTUR]