Moissac - East Side - E20MS38

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  Moissac
East Side
E20MS38

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E20MS38S S

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E20MS38SW SW

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E20MS38SE SE

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Annunciation and Visitation

The left side of this double capital projected outwards from the pillar is devoted to a representation of the Annunciation. Below the volute stands the Archangel Gabriel. He stretches out his left hand to the Virgin, who swivels her head towards him and presses her open hands to her breast as a sign of consent: “Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:26-38). On the narrow side behind, a haloed female figure with veiled hands stands under an arcade. She is either a handmaid who witnesses the scene or Elizabeth, who is represented in the scene of Visitation on the other side of the capital. There we see the two kinswomen embracing each other: “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Lk 1:41). On the narrow east side a large angel blesses the two women, while with his other hand, palm exposed and held against his breast, he seems to be commenting on the scene. Between Annunciation and Visitation is placed a small aedicule supported by two columns with Corinthian capitals. In this ciborium a hanging tabernacle with two curtains that are wound round the columns is placed: the mystery of the Incarnation is thus brought into immediate rapport with the Eucharist. This side corresponds to the representation on the capital opposite E19MS37, where Bishop Fructuosus is celebrating Mass. The band framed by two narrow fillets that runs through the background of the middle third of the capital could correspond to the bright ground of a similar scene in a miniature. Also to be remarked on here is the cushion that can be glimpsed behind the somewhat clumsy representation of Mary in the scene of Annunciation; it implies that the Virgin is supposed to be sitting.

ciborium angel Elizabeth Virgin Visitation Annunciation curtain Gabriel