Monreale cathedral, bronze doors of Bonannus of Pisa, Birth of Cain and Abel
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. This panel depicts the birth of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4: 1-2) and the titulus reads, “Eva ienui(t) Caim Abel,” “Eve begets Cain and Abel.” It is in the second row (from the bottom) of Old Testament scenes on the right door. Adam holds one infant wrapped in swaddling clothes; Eve appears to rise from the heavily draped bed and nurses the other child. The sheep on the hillside above the figures anticipate the flocks in the next scene of Cain and Abel. The cave-like setting looks ahead to the composition of the Nativity of Jesus, four rows above. D'Emilio photo archive no. s19781114_2062u (13.4.17/JD)Galleries:Adam and Eve laboring, Bonannus of Pisa, Bronze doors, Bronze doors of Bonannus of Pisa, Monreale cathedral, Cain and Abel, Doors, Italy 1180s, Tituli on bronze doorsKeywords:bed, cave, infants, sheep, swaddling clothesPhoto Location: Monreale, ItalyPhotographer: Dr. James D’EmilioDate of Photo:Device Make: NikonDevice Model: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 EDOriginal Dimensions: 3370×5318Picture Orientation: PortraitGPS Coordinates:Picture Number: 22424
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