medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Here you have Thurlby's description of the tympanum:
"In the centre is a large, frontal, seated figure with a cruciform
halo and right hand held away from the body is blessing. From behind
the head a series of rays cuve down to the shoulder. (...) On the lap
is a smaller figure also with a cruciform halo and giving blessing
with the right hand, whilst a scroll falls across the legs on the left
(...) In the foliage on the right is a large, winged lion, while on
the left ther is a bird (...) A Virgin and Child tympanum would also
be most appropiate for a church dedicated to the St Mary, but how are
we to account for the cruciform halo of the 'Virgin? It has been
interpreted as a mistake by a sculptor who misunderstood the model
(...) But perhaps there is no mistake and a representation of the
Trinity was intended, the Trinity being completed wuith the bird on
the left tympanum or, more likely, with a bird carved on a a voussoir
above God the Father (...) The bird refers to St John's Gospel while
the winged lion, the symbol of St Mark, suggests specific reference to
chapter 16, verse 19, of St Mark's Gospel which tells that the Lord
'was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God'.
Therefore, far from being a misunderstood representation of the Virgin
and Child, the Fownhope tymapnum could be an ingenious combination of
Virgin and Child and Trinitarian imagery" (pp. 141-3).
Carlos
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