Some Account of Gothic Architecture in Spain Part 39

Two figures in supplication, apparently, before the third.

26. Noah and one of his sons before the ark.

Noah turns his head towards G.o.d, who speaks from a cloud and desires him to go into the ark.

27. The ark on the waters.

On one side of the roof a dove, and on the other one with a twig of a tree. The ark has three tiers of openings: beasts look out of the lowest, men and women from the next, and birds from the highest.

28. The ark resting on the land, and the drunkenness of Noah.

Above, Noah prays by a tree. Below, Ham lifts up the garment of Noah, who is lying on the ground, and Shem and j.a.pheth, kneeling, cover their faces with their hands.

29. Probably the promise to Abraham that he should be the father of many nations. (?)

On the left, two figures conversing; on the right, three tiers of figures. Dead bodies below, two seated figures above them, and one seated figure above again.

30. Lot and the Angels.

Lot kneels before two angels.

31. Abraham's sacrifice.

Isaac bound and lying on the ground. Abraham behind him looks back to an angel, who speaks and points to the ram in a thicket.

32. Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham binding the ram, Isaac standing looking on, with his hands in prayer.

33. Rebekah and Jacob.

Rebekah speaking to Jacob, who shows her that his arms have no hair on them.

34. Isaac blessing Jacob.

Isaac sits up in bed, turns his face away from Jacob, and feels his arms. The expression of blindness is extremely well conveyed.

35. Esau's distress.

Isaac supports himself on one arm on his couch; with the other he gesticulates to Esau, who stands before him with his hand before his face, and evidently in grief.

36. Jacob's dream. (?)

A man seated before a tree with his hand up to his face.

37. Jacob wrestling with the Angel.

38. Joseph sold to the Ishmaelites.

39. Joseph's brethren return to Jacob with his coat.

40. Joseph's brethren bowing down before him.

This is the last subject on the south side of the Coro. It is possible that it may have been returned on the eastern side of the columns at this point, so as to allow of two more subjects being introduced on either side; but if so, these subjects have been destroyed. The first six subjects on the screen on the north side, Nos. 41 to 46, are all very similar--a king seated, with generally many persons in various att.i.tudes around him; possibly these subjects, with the four which may have been destroyed, represented the ten plagues of Egypt. I cannot discover any other explanation for them.

47. The inst.i.tution of the Pa.s.sover.

Figures marking the lintels and side posts of a house.

48. The inst.i.tution of the Pa.s.sover.

The sacrifice of the lamb, several figures standing round an altar.

49. The smiting of the first-born of the Egyptians. (?)

Two subjects, one above the other; in each a dead body laid out, and people looking on.

50. The pa.s.sage of the Red Sea.

The people are walking on the water.

51. The drowning of the Egyptians.

52. Moses stretching his hand out over the water.

Moses stoops down and touches the water with his hand.

53. Exodus xvi. 10-12. "The glory of the Lord in the cloud."

G.o.d speaking to a crowd of kneeling figures.

54. Exodus xvii. 45-6. Moses at the rock in h.o.r.eb. (?)

G.o.d (with a cruciform nimbus) speaking out of the clouds to Moses, who speaks to a group seated before him (probably the elders of Israel, v. 6).

55. Jethro, Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer coming to Moses. (?) Exodus xviii.

Moses kneeling on the right, three figures seated on the left, and another speaking from out of foliage above. I can think of no other subject which this sculpture can represent.

56. (?) The people giving their ear-rings to Aaron to make the molten calf. Exodus x.x.xii. 24.

Three figures on either side of one who stands in the centre. They seem to be throwing things into the flames, in the midst of which is a serpent.

57. Moses' hands stayed up. Exodus xvii. 12. (?)

Three figures, two holding a book (apparently) under the hands of the fourth, who appears to be much fatigued. There are flames in the foreground, in the midst of which is a small head.

58. Exodus xix. 10. (?) The people was.h.i.+ng their clothes at Moses'