Images of Medieval Art and Architecture

France: Vézelay
Benedictine Abbey Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

Nave: Historiated Capital
The Four Rivers of Paradise


Images

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Subject Matter

The Four Rivers of Paradise:

Four seated nude figures spew or pour water to form rivers.
At extreme left, a figure pours from a cylindrical vessel (not shown).
At left, a semi-reclining figure pours from a horn-shaped vessel.
At right, a figure spews a stream from its mouth.
At extreme right (not shown), a figure pours liquid from an urn.


Placement within Floorplan Placement in Elevation

Salet: Number 07-

The Four Rivers of Paradise:
South aisle of nave, North side of pilaster


Related Material

Click here to see other Vézelay capitals with symbolic subject matter

or

click here to see other Vézelay capitals with classical subject matter.


Bibliography

Salet, p. 182.


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Created by J. Vadnal, August, 1998