Abacus of Capital from the Abbey of Santa María de Lebanza

This capital once crowned a twin column in the abbey church of Santa María de Lebanza, in Palencia, northern Spain. Christ is shown seated in an almond-shaped “mandorla” surrounded by beasts representing the Evangelists: an angel (Matthew), an eagle (John), a lion (Mark), and an ox (Luke). This motif, known as Christ in Majesty, was common in the Middle Ages. Unusually, the motif is conflated here with an image of Christ as the Redeemer, for Christ is also bare-chested, with the angel and eagle displaying his wounds. This variation may reflect the interest in Christ’s suffering that began in the late twelfth century. Accordingly, pairs of disciples on either side hold the instruments of the Passion: nails, a spear, and a double-armed cross. Above, an inscription honors the patron: “Pedro Caro, Prior, made this church and the monastery with its cloisters and all that was founded by him; it was 1223 [1185 by our modern calendar].”