Girona Art Museum

Capital

Capital, 12th century. Limestone, 27 x 21 x 21 cm. Sant Privat d’en Bas (Garrotxa). Girona Art Museum - Bishopric of Girona Collection.

Capital, 12th century. Limestone, 27 x 21 x 21 cm. Sant Privat d’en Bas (Garrotxa). Girona Art Museum - Bishopric of Girona Collection.

The corners of this capital are occupied by two female figures being attacked by snakes, and two male figures, most probably churchmen, with crosiers in their hands.

It is a rendering of punishment for lust, a popular theme in the Romanesque, with a naked female figure attacked and bitten by snakes. It is unusual, however, for this subject to include religious figures. We are therefore contemplating an educational scene, to teach the people a lesson about good and evil, in which we might also infer a warning to the church establishment about the danger of succumbing to sin.

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