TRUMEAU, SOUTH PORTAL, PRIORY CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE, MOISSAC. France. c. 1115.
Part of the South Portal to the church.
The term portal refers to a doorway or entry into a building, and Romanesque portals have distinct architectural elements which were oftentimes carved with a variety of ornament and subject matter. In the case of Ste. Pierre, the portal is divided in half vertically by the trumeau, which is decorated on three of its four sides. On the front, the viewer is faced with three pairs of intertwined lions and lionesses who are there to symbolically guard the entry into the sacred space of the church. Such symbolism comes from Early Christian imagery where the doors to Christ’s tomb are often shown with lion’s heads on them. On the east side of the trumeau is a representation of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (some scholars suggest it is Isaiah), who holds a scroll in his hands. On the west side is a figure identified as St. Paul, from the New Testament. Across from St. Paul is a representation of St. Peter, also a New Testament saint (and the namesake of the church), and across from Jeremiah, is the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. The pairing of Old and New Testament figures was common during this period as a means of suggesting the fulfillment of Mosaic law (the law coming Moses) in the new Christian law under Christ.
Wiligelmo CREATION AND FALL, WEST FAÇADE, MODENA CATHEDRAL Emilia, Italy. Building begun 1099; sculpture c. 1099. Height approx. 3* (92 cm).
http://surveyofwesternart1.tumblr.com/post/67368284983/wiligelmo-creation-and-temptation-of-adam-
and high-relief sculpture and the Biblical scenes depicted are against an architectural backdrop (Roman arches and columns behind the figures). The figures in this work include: Christ (framed by an almond-shaped mandorla), Adam, Eve, two angels, and the serpent (representing evil and temptation). One interesting fact about this work is that the names of Adam “ADAM” and Eve “EVA” have been engraved into the background for identification. (1) The creation of Adam (2) Warning Adam and Eve to not eat the forbidden fruit (3) Temptation.