Verona, San Zeno, bronze doors, six panels, St. John the Baptist, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel
These are the two lowest rows of the eight rows of panels on the left or north door of San Zeno. The three scenes in the upper row show the beheading of St. John the Baptist and the bringing of his head, first, to King Herod’s banquet where Salome is dancing, then, to Herodias, Salome’s mother and Herod’s wife (Mark 6:17-28). The lower row includes an allegory of two nursing mothers, the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, and a scene of labor showing Eve spinning and Cain’s murder of his brother Abel. Among the four crowned figures at the right, two are playing harps. At the extreme right – on the right door, there is a sculptor at work – an interesting example of artists portraying themselves in their work in medieval art. The head of sculptor appears highly polished, probably because it has stroked by visitors for centuries.
All of the figures and scenes, except the sculptor, are generally attributed to an early twelfth-century artist responsible for most of the Life of Jesus on the left or north door. The sculptor is the work of a second artist, responsible for the Old Testament cycle in the upper rows of the right or south door, probably in the second half of the twelfth century.
D'Emilio photo archive no. s19772801_945u (updated/13.4.16, JD)Galleries:Adam and Eve laboring, Cain and Abel, Christian Sculpture, Doors, Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, San Zeno Maggiore, Verona, St. John the BaptistKeywords:Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Eden, Expulsion from Paradise, Herodias, King Herod, Salome, St. John the Baptist, angel, banquet, beheading, dance, plough, spinningPhotographer: Dr. James D’EmilioDate of Photo:Device Make: NikonDevice Model: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 EDOriginal Dimensions: 5297×3409Picture Orientation: LandscapeGPS Coordinates:Picture Number: 22086
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