Monreale cathedral, bronze doors of Bonannus of Pisa, Adam and Eve after the Fall
The bronze doors of the west entrance of Monreale cathedral were signed and dated (1186) by Bonannus of Pisa who also made two sets of doors for Pisa Cathedral. Twenty Old Testament scenes occupy the five lower rows and twenty New Testament scenes the upper five rows. In this panel, an angel with a sword (Genesis 3:24) carries a mattock to Adam and Eve who are dressed in the skins God provided (Genesis 3:21) after their sin. The mattock alludes to God’s punishment, “By the sweat of your face, you will eat bread till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). Appropriately, the rocks resemble those in the scenes of the creation of Adam and of Eve, and they underscore the harshness of the labor of cultivation to which Adam and Eve are condemned (Genesis 3:17-18). The inscription paraphrases Genesis 3: 19: “I(n) sudore uultu(s) tu(i) uisciere pane(m) tuu(m).” It is in the second row (from the bottom) of Old Testament scenes on the left door. D'Emilio photo archive no. s19781111_2059u (13.4.16/JD)Galleries:Adam and Eve laboring, Angels, Bonannus of Pisa, Bronze doors, Bronze doors of Bonannus of Pisa, Monreale cathedral, Doors, Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, Italy 1180s, Tituli on bronze doorsKeywords:angel, hides, mattock, swordPhoto Location: Monreale, ItalyPhotographer: Dr. James D’EmilioDate of Photo:Device Make: NikonDevice Model: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 EDOriginal Dimensions: 3482×5206Picture Orientation: PortraitGPS Coordinates:Picture Number: 22421
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