The Doors of Bishop Bernward
1015
made for the Abbey Church of Saint Michael
Hildesheim, Germany
Creation of Adam & Eve Presented to Adam
What do we need to take notes on?
• the stylized plant forms indicate that this
space is in the garden of Eden
• note the relative sizes of the figures; not
surprisingly, God is much larger
• also, note the artist’s naïve or
inexperienced use of space: figures are
laid against the panel; they do not
authentically occupy the space
Temptation and Fall
What do we need to take notes on?
• can you find the forbidden tree of
knowledge? –it is on the far left side of the
frame
• an argument: the snake holding the apple
appears to be one of the branches of the
tree; this purposeful design argues that
evil often cloaks itself in the seemingly
mundane—one must be vigilant
Accusation and Judgment of Adam and Eve
What do we need to take notes on?
• the postures of Adam and Eve’s bodies
indicate the heavy weight of their shame
Expulsion & Arduous Life on Earth
Expulsion from Paradise
What do we need to take notes on?
• the archangel Michael casts Adam and
Eve out of paradise—notice his sword
• the artist has used a stylized
representation of flowering trees to
represent Eden while the carefully
articulated textures of building represents
the fallen world—the world in which the
viewer of this door lives
• note that Eve looks back—the argument?
Cain and Abel: Offerings + Abel Murdered
What do we need to take notes on?
• God is represented as an overlarge hand
within a mandorla
• in the second panel two scenes are written
across one panel—murder and then God’s
judgment: "What have you done? The voice of your
brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are
cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive
your brother's blood from your hand. When you cultivate the
ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a
vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."
Annunciation & Nativity
• in the nativity, the described space of the panel
is not coherent: objects seem to float in this
scene; also note the way that the stylized
architectural forms do not represent resolved
geometries—walls seem broken up
• in the space of the annunciation the artist has
been more successful articulating the space but
has also attempted less: the two figures occupy
a shallow space directly across from each other;
the space is framed by architectural motifs
Joseph waits for the birth of
Christ.
Again, what role is he given?
Where is he located in the
frame? What then is the
argument?
Gifts of the Magi &
Presentation at the
Temple
• where is Joseph in the frame? does he
have a halo? what then is the argument?
Presentation at the Temple
• just glory in the beautifully, though primitively,
articulated temple…
• what small details do you see?
the curtains
the rectangular shape which probably
represents the altar or the tabernacle
what about the CROSS—should that be there or
does it remind the viewer of the future…that
Christianity will become the true religion, that
this small baby being presented at the temple
will be crucified…
Judgment of Christ by Pilate & Crucifixion
• in Pilate’s judgment, can you find the
devil?
• also, note the relative size of Christ; he is
more powerful than his captors—he is not
submitting to them but to his Father’s will
(did Adam and Eve?)
Women at the Tomb & Ascension
• Christ returns to paradise—see the gate?
• a fragment from the Nicene Creed:
“…he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was
buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father…”
• the man “following” him may be James or Peter
to whom apocrypha argues that Christ spoke
before he ascended
• apocrypha: 1. various early Christian writings proposed
as additions to the New Testament but rejected by the
major canons. 2. writings or statements of questionable
authorship or authenticity
Arduous Life on Earth + Gifts of Magi