Verona, San Zeno, bronze doors, Second Coming of Jesus
This scene of Jesus’ Second Coming at the Last Judgment completes the cycle of seventeen scenes dedicated to the Life of Jesus on the left door and it is the work of the early twelfth-century artist responsible for nearly all of that cycle. It is placed prominently in the center of the sixth row of scenes, alongside a large mask (resembling a door knocker) and just below the scene of Jesus’ Crucifixion. Here, Jesus is shown blessing with his right hand and holding a book in his left. He rests his feet on a cross carried by angels. The cross is studded with the stubs of branches, perhaps to represent a living cross or to allude to the Tree of Life, depicted prominently in the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve on the right door. The Tree of Knowledge was understood as the instrument of man’s fall, just as the cross was the instrument of redemption, and Christian commentators identified it with the wood of the Cross. Besides the Cross, other instruments of the Passion – specifically, the lance with which Jesus was pierced in the side and the nails which fixed him to the Cross – are carried by the two angels in the upper part of the scene. They also carry incense censers.
D'Emilio photo archive no. s19772907_984u (13.06.02/JD)Galleries:Angels, Bronze doors, Censers for burning incense, Christian Sculpture, Instruments of the Passion, San Zeno Maggiore, Verona, Second Coming of JesusKeywords:angels, incensePhoto Location: Verona, ItalyPhotographer: Dr. James D’EmilioDate of Photo:Device Make: NikonDevice Model: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 EDOriginal Dimensions: 3594×5302Picture Orientation: PortraitGPS Coordinates:Picture Number: 22849
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