Capitals And More
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capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Capitals And More
@capitalsandmore.bsky.social
60 followers 13 following 34 posts
I like capitals, decorative sculpture, and ornament. Soon you will too.
Brought to you by demiliopics2.bsky.social and thousands of sculptors.
Photos my own
I've also begun a website: www.jamesdemilio.com
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capitalsandmore.bsky.social
The "capital of the dance", a splendid #Romanesque piece from the onetime abbey of Sant'Andrea dell'Isola at Brindisi, now in the Museo Archeologico, Brindisi
#romanico #museitaliani
Alternating standing figures of men and women with hands clasped, some raised, some at their sides. Detail of the faces and raised, clasped hands of three figures. Row of men and women with clasped hands
June 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
A pair of Roman capitals decorated with large heads on each face at the Museo Archeologico, Brindisi.
They were found in excavations at the site itself, a handy thing for a museum.
#AncientBlueSky #museitaliani #Puglia
Capital with row of acanthus leaves in the lower zone and a large head in the center of each face. Detail of a woman's head: she is veiled and wears earrings. The sculptor has drilled the pupils of her eyes. She is framed by acanthus leaves. Detail of a bearded man's head. He wears a rounded, conical cap and is framed by acanthus leaves A second capital with a lower row of acanthus leaves, corner volutes, and a large head (a woman and a man) on each face.
June 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Thin line between a griffin and a rooster.
#Romanesque capital in the Bitonto Cathedral crypt.
#romanico
Four-sided capital with two alternating roles of large, simple, and stylized rectangular leaves. In the upper row, there is one at each corner with a figure seated on it and supporting the corners of the abacus. Between them, on the center of each face of the capital, an animal is carved in low relief on the exposed bell of the capital, above the lower leaves. Two are roosters, two are griffins. The feathers and wings are detailed with incisions and grooves. A griffin in low relief with a bird's beaked head and a feathered breast, a lion's body, legs, and long tail. A rooster in low relief with a crest and a fan of tail feathers.
June 4, 2025 at 7:19 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Signatures of artists, Melo da Stigliano and Minerro da Canosa, on 13th century capitals and imposts in the castle at Bari
#sculpture #MedievalArt
Capital with a lower row of leaves, an upper row of birds, and an inscription on the impost block Inscription: MELIS DE STELLIANO ME FECOT Capital with eagles at the corners, wings open and clutching their prey, small animals, with their claws. They are surrounded by stylized foliage. There is an inscription on the underside of the necking... Inscription on the underside of the necking of the capital reads, "MINERRUS DE CANUSIA ME FECIT"
June 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Selection of capitals (and a representation of a capital on a relief panel) from the Bari Cathedral crypt, the crossing area of the church, and the Museo Diocesano.
#MedievalSky #Romanico #Romanesque
Finely detailed acanthus capital with drill work. Two alternating rows of acanthus leaves and clusters of thin spiraling tendrils in the center of each face where a leaf of a third row might be placed. Corner volutes are cabled and there is a floral boss in the center of the deeply concave, grooved abacus. Large acanthus capital, with three densely crowded rows of spiky acanthus with the background deeply drilled to outline them. On a relief panel, interlacing ribbon creates rows of square panels framing geometric, floral, and foliate designs. To create an architectural framework, the ribbons outline a column or pilaster with a stylized foliate capital and volutes. Small capital with interlacing foliate stems and, in the lower half, pairs of birds biting the stems.
May 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
That's what they're giving us? Let's stick with the secondhand stuff.
Early medieval capitals and spolia, crypt of S Maria in Organo, Verona.
A 7th century foundation, the church was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1117 and, under the Olivetans, in the late 15c
#SundayStonework #SpoliaSunday
The capital is shaped as a large rectangular block with a slight concavity, most evident in the grooved abacus. There is a plain band at the base. Above that, three very simple leaves, with rounded tops but no detailing, arise to cover barely a third of the surface. Two pairs of spiraling snail-like volutes are in low relief above. At the corners, the volutes project more sharply and are linked by long pegs to the leaves below. There is plenty of blank space, very likely intended for painted ornament, on the surface of the piece. The squat capital is roughly shaped like a cushion or cubic capital with its bottom corners tapered. The upside-down lettering on the two faces shows it was part of a larger inscribed piece, inverted and recut as a simple capital. The impost is stepped in its profile.
May 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Three women and the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on #Easter morning
Late 12th century #Romanesque capital from the monastery of Aguilar de Campoo, now Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid
#romanico
A detail of the angel's head with thick curls of hair and a headband. It is highlighted against the dark shadow of the deeply carved background. The angel sits at the left. The three women approach from the right. They hold jars of ointment and walk behind the closed sarcophagus in the center of the capital. The shroud of Jesus falls from inside the sarcophagus to drape the front of it. Below the sarcophagus, two fully armored soldiers lie on the ground.
April 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
The three women find an angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on #Easter morning
Late 12th century capital, cloister of Monreale Cathedral, Sicily
This is a double capital. The three haloed women are at the left, carrying jars of ointments. The two women at the back appear to be already turning away and gesturing, as if to leave the scene. The one at the front addresses the angel who is seated on what may be the slab from the entrance of the tomb. The angel has a large, feathered wing that extends towards the woman's outstretched arm. His right arm crosses his turned body and points to his left (our right), towards the arched opening of the tomb in a rocky cliff (marked by the surrounding relief, like a series of projecting diamonds). Inside the tomb, we can see the shroud of Jesus. Outside, two armored soldiers with helmets, shields and sword lie sleeping. The whole scene is carved against the convex bell of the capitals. There is a well-formed concave, grooved abacus above with a floral or foliate boss on each of the two parts of the double capital. And, the photo shows part of the impost block decorated with drilled acanthus leaves.
April 20, 2025 at 5:11 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
The late twelfth-century Romanesque capital of the Deposition from the monastery of Aguilar de Campoo, now Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid
The scene shows one of Jesus's arms freed from the cross. A woman, probably Mary, kisses his hand. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are lowering him from the cross. One supports his torso, the other uses pliers to remove the nail from his left arm. A detail of a woman (probably Mary) kissing Jesus' hand and holding his arm, as he is freed and brought down from the cross. A side view of the same capital with a closer detail of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, one holding Jesus's body, the other removing the nail from the left (our right) crossarm.
April 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
If conditions are just right, you may be able to grow a bishop's head in your garden too.
West portal, Sant'Agata, Perugia
Capital frieze with acanthus foliage and the bearded head of a bishop, wearing a decorated mitre
March 12, 2025 at 4:35 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
"You, looking at our church, look at the beard too. I'm the custodian carved to deceive the fools."
Inscribed #Romanesque capital, San Flaviano, Montefiascone
#romanico
January 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Ok, that's enough for today.
Foligno Cathedral, crypt
Stone capital with two rows of large leaves roughed out. Two leaves have no detailing. Two have bare outlines of the central ribs of the leaf. Two have jagged edges and enough carving on the surface to show the rudiments of the acanthus leaves of a Corinthian capital.
January 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Crocket capital in the church of the royal nunnery of Las Huelgas.
Just a capital, that's all.
#Sculpture
January 10, 2025 at 4:33 AM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
1/ The journey and visit of the three kings on a capital in the cloister of Monreale Cathedral, Sicily.
Look carefully: you'll see lightly incised stars ring the large star. I like the acanthus leaf tips curling from the baskets too (and the house built into one). Photo: 1978
#Romanesque #romanico
January 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
For the #Epiphany, a capital near the center of the choir, Saint-Pierre de Chauvigny.
Note the placement of Gofridus' inscription ("Gofridus me fecit" =made me) above the hand of God, and how it may relate making the capitals to the kings offering gifts, like donor portraits.
#Romanesque #romanico
January 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
We're getting paid by the head, right?
Santa Maria della Pieve, Arezzo
#romanico
January 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Well worth taking a moment (or a few moments) to appreciate how many small differences there are in the foliate ornaments, outside the main circle, in the four corners of the square. At first, they look more or less alike, but not quite.
January 2, 2025 at 11:26 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
When critters start escaping from their roundels, it's time to tighten things up a bit.
Early medieval panels, Aquileia Cathedral
#Sculpture #Ornament
January 2, 2025 at 11:19 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
2/The inscription quotes Gabriel (Luke 1:13: "Do not be afraid Zechariah..."). "Spoken" inscriptions and other details of the portal suggest links with drama (see: Dorothy Glass, Portals, Pilgrimage, and Crusade in Western Tuscany). The facing capital is signed "Magister Enricus me fecit".
January 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
1/Let's start an occasional New Testament series for 2025.
The Angel Gabriel announces to Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son, John the Baptist.
Inscribed capital on the west portal (lintel dated 1166), Sant'Andrea, Pistoia.
#Romanesque #romanico
January 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Goodbye to 2024...there it goes...
and all the best for 2025 and a #HappyNewYear, even a Capital New Year
(#Romanesque capital from Saint-Pierre, Chauvigny)
December 31, 2024 at 5:07 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
When you view the Otranto pavement, you get a "bird's eye view" of the world and all its marvels, without going through half the trouble of Alexander or the builders of the Tower of Babel, another prominent scene.
Part of the cleverness of it.
#MosaicMonday
December 30, 2024 at 6:15 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
Took the Plustek scanner out of mothballs today, updated my Silverfast software, did some test scans, followed by edits:
#Romanesque capitals, late 12c chapterhouse, Premonstratensian monastery, Santa Cruz de Ribas de Campos, Palencia (photos: 1999). Lots more to come (I don't say "lots" lightly)
Heavily armored knights on horseback in combat, one with spear, one with raised sword, both with long shields Short side of the capital with knights in combat shows a figure carrying a shield and thrusting a spear in the mouth of a winged beast. Ornate foliate capital with finely detailed, tall, lobed leaves curling into balls or knotted foliate tips. What is most distinctive is their diagonal "lean", with the borders of each leaf separated by deeply drilled furrows Unlike the previous two "double" capitals, this is a two-sided corner capital with winged griffons on each side. They are tanged in a scrolling stem. The better-preserved one on the fully visible face has a marked beak; tall, raised ears; and a "beard".
December 30, 2024 at 5:49 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
1/Two panels from 12c pulpits in Salerno Cathedral: a study in #interlace in marble and mosaic. In each square, four different patterns line the border in J-shaped bands. Each twists "under" another to continue in a short band around the central disc. Check it!
#MarbleMonday #MosaicMonday
December 30, 2024 at 1:19 PM
capitalsandmore.bsky.social
In medieval romances, Alexander the Great sought to climb to the heavens. Harnessing griffins to a basket, he held up skewers of meat to coax those great lovers of kebabs to fly ever higher.
Two 12c images in cathedrals in #Puglia: a capital at Bitonto, pavement mosaic at Otranto
#MosaicMonday
December 30, 2024 at 1:13 PM