Capital
late 12th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This capital was made in the late 12th century, probably in Spain or Southen France. This capital would have formed part of a cloister arcade, with the shorter principal side facing into the cloister walk. The style and iconography do not allow precise localisation or dating. The figure of Luxuria depicted in one of the longer sides was a particularly popular theme on capitals in both France and Northern Spain in the twelfth century. The identity of the second figure in the principal shorter face could be Rankengöttin, but is unclear, although parallels may be found on other capitals in Southern France. Evidence of the popularity of this second figure is that it appears in a very similar form on a capital in St Peter's, Northampton, of around 1150.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Marble capital, Spanish or Southern French, late 12th century. |
| Physical description | Originally a double capital. On one of the longer sides sits Luxuria, with long braided hair, holding two snakes to her breasts. On the principal shorter face is a naked figure amidst curling foliage, holding a plant in each hand. The second longer side is only half carved, with curling foliage overlapping from the adjoining face. The back is plain and broken, and the rest of the capital is chipped in places, most seriously around the astragal. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This capital was made in the late 12th century, probably in Spain or Southen France. This capital would have formed part of a cloister arcade, with the shorter principal side facing into the cloister walk. The style and iconography do not allow precise localisation or dating. The figure of Luxuria depicted in one of the longer sides was a particularly popular theme on capitals in both France and Northern Spain in the twelfth century. The identity of the second figure in the principal shorter face could be Rankengöttin, but is unclear, although parallels may be found on other capitals in Southern France. Evidence of the popularity of this second figure is that it appears in a very similar form on a capital in St Peter's, Northampton, of around 1150. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.161-1920 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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