Dear C. T. Ault,
Perhaps the best known depiction is that of Sainte-Foy de Conques, early
12th century. The town of Conques has put some pictures on the web that
will give you an idea: www.conques.com/visite.tympan.enfer.html
Also, the Cloisters has a capital from St. Guilhem-le-Desert, in which the
basket is the large open mouth, see,
www.nyu.edu/classes/finearts/map/p12.html
And at Autun, though more in the "big fish mouth" category is, above the
devil's head, at the gates to hell, a Hell Mouth.
I think I recall there being a Hell Mouth also at Beaulieu, but I have no
evidence of that, but will keep it in mind when next looking though slides
of the area.
Cordially,
Judith Rosenberg
At 04:53 PM 12/25/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear All,
>I think I may have posted this query a long time ago, so please excuse me if I
>repeat myself. I am interested in finding as many examples of the medieval
>hell mouth as I can. It is a part of depictions of the last judgement, where
>sinners a being thrown and stuffed into the gaping maw of a terrifying beast,
>who represents the entrance to hell. The only architectural example I know is
>found on the west facade of Bourges cathedral. The only graphic
>representation I know is the colored drawing of the Valenciennes Passion Play
>of 1547, which, though very late, corresponds in details to descriptions I
>have from Italy a century earlier.
>
>Can anyone tell me where to find others? Thank you.
>
>C. Thomas Ault
>Theatre Department
>Indiana University of Pennsylvania
>Indiana, PA 15705
>USA
>724-357-2169
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