In this capital, which represents episodes from Genesis, the story unfolds without caesuras and the succession of scenes is marked by the movement of the figures and the repeated presence of the tree with the Snake in an angular position. The narration begins with Adam and Eve being led into the Earthly Paradise: a young God, beardless and with long hair, dressed in a long tunic and cloak that falls over his shoulder, leads the naked Adam by the hand, followed by Eve. The narration continues with the episode of the temptation of Eve: the Progenitors, dressed in long tunics edged at the neck and cuffs made with a drill decoration, are seated on a historiated bench, behind them a small tree with three large leaves divides symmetrically the scene and sets it; on the one hand Eve with her hand raised near her face seems to listen to the tempting Serpent enveloped in the fruit-laden tree trunk, on the other Adam, sitting in a frontal position with a flower in his hand, does not participate in the "interview" that is taking place on his right. In the following scene, Eve appears offering the fruits to Adam, while the fourth side depicts the shame of the Progenitors after the sin committed: naked and shameful Adam and Eve are seated on the lower branches of the fruiting tree, according to an iconography that symbolically recalls the 'genealogical tree.
Title: Wayside Shrine
Author: Benedetto Antelami
Date: 1178
Technique: White marble sculpture
Displayed in: National Gallery
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