Abraham’s Sacrifice

The story is recounted on three sides of this capital group. In terms of the chronology of the narrative, the narrow sides are clearly subordinated to the main event described on the broad side of the capital. On the right Abraham and Isaac are carrying the wood for the burnt offering and at God’s command start out for the land of Moriah (Gen 22:1-19); one of them sits on an ass, his hand on the animal’s withers. The opposite narrow side shows an angel who stays Abraham’s fatal movement simply by a sign of his right index finger. The ram can be seen at his feet. The broad main side shows Isaac with fettered hands and feet, turned to the left, sitting on top of the sacrificial bonfire as the flames lick upwards. Abraham grasps Isaac by the crown of his head with his left hand, while with his right he wields the knife. The angel, standing behind the altar, lays his protective wing over Isaac and gives his blessing with an authoritative gesture of his raised right hand. The position of this angel, who blesses Abraham and his progeny on the main side of the capital, emphasises the moment in which God establishes his covenant with the chosen people. The fact that the narrative of Genesis is not precisely followed in the sculptured representation is undoubtedly attributable to quite conscious decisions on the part of the patron.
The sculpting of the angel on the narrow left side, who holds the hem of his cloak with his left hand and lays his right hand over the folds of his mantle – as in the pose of ancient philosophers – is a clear reference to the basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse (e.g. capital no. 236).

ram sacrifice angel Isaac Abraham convenant