Moissac - West Side - W17MS73

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  Moissac
West Side
W17MS73

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W17MS73E E

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Cain and Abel

The story of Cain and Abel (Gen: 4,1-16) is represented on all four sides of the capital. On the west side Abel is carrying a lamb to the altar; an angel flying down from heaven accepts the offering with a gesture of his open right hand in the middle axis. On the south side Cain is bringing to the altar which forms the central motif of this side of the capital; the accompanying inscription reads: GARBA CAIN (“Cain’s sheaf”).The offeringis accepted by a devil with a grimace: DIAB[O]L[V]S RECIPIT EA[M] (“The devil receives it”). On the east side Cain throws his brother to the ground and kills him: CAIN OCCIDIT ABEL (“Cain kills Abel”). On the north side God, recognizable thanks to his cruciform halo and an angel with open book, asks Cain: “Where is Abel, your brother?”: CAIN VBI E[ST] ABEL FR[ATER] TVVS. Cain replies: NESCIO (“I do not know”). God curses the son of Adam. The composition rhythmically structures each side, according to the biblical narrative. The projecting parts of the capital are incorporated into it, or are avoided. The relatively gauche treatment of the bodies, their movements, and the somewhat tentative character of their dress are quite specific for this sculptor, whom we often encounter in the cloister. The use of inscriptions underlines the scriptural character of the scenes: they are a precise transcription in stone of the text of Genesis.
The impost block is decorated with a broa fish-scale pattern, the frieze below with a succession of medallions containing four-petal flower-heads. Rather than a foliate motif, this ornament is more reminiscent of goldsmith’s work. The carving is coarse and stiff.

altar angel God Abel Cain inscription ABEL GARBA CAIN DIAB[O]L[U])S RECIPIT EA[M] CAIN OCCIDIT ABEL CAIN VBI E[ST] ABEL FR[ATER] TVVS NESCIO