St Nicholas Church South Door - Barfrestone Kent UK
Posted by: 
MeerRescue
N 51° 12.336 E 001° 14.401
31U E 377053 N 5674160
Exquisite Norman carved South door of St Nicholas Church Barfrestone -Kent UK
Waymark Code: WMDYA5
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/08/2012
Views: 2
The south door is an exquisite masterpiece of Norman sculpture.
Probably the work of the Guild of Masons based at Canterbury Cathedral, the
tympanum and arches of the south door contain what can easily be described,
without fear of contradiction, as some of the finest Norman carvings in Britain.
The imported Caen stone has carved major and minor shafts with ornate capitals
supporting an exquisite tympanum. The main subject is a Majestas Domini (Christ
in Glory) surrounded by three voussoirs. The inner most is a narrow band of
foliage. The middle has fantastical representations of mythical birds and
beasties. The outermost depicts more typical scenes of medieval life, possibly
labours of the months through the year and a few with scriptural associations.
In the vesica, Christ raises one hand in blessing while the other holds an open
bible. He is surrounded above by angels, two holding scrolls and coroneted heads
of noble mortals, whilst at his feet are a sphinx, two mermaids and a griffin.