Capitals
Introduction

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Capitals

The abbey church contains many indented capitals (flutes) showing an English influence, and they are all different. What is unusual is that there are a lot of capitals with characters portraying saints, miracles and scenes from the Old or New Testament (historiated capitals).

This is not all: the sculptors have allowed their imaginations to run riot by sculpting a lot of capitals with monsters (two bodies and only one head).

There are two famous panels sculpted in bas relief:

• On one of them, a crowned prelate is sitting on a throne, with a crosier in his hand and his feet resting on two heads.
• On the other two horsemen are facing one another in single combat and their weapons are similar to those depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.

The chapter house capitals, which are from fifty years later, denote a more elaborate technique and probably an Ile de France influence. Indeed, there are three statue columns:

• one of them shows an abbot holding a scroll demanding observance of the rule,
• another shows death in the form of a woman slitting her throat,
• the last one shows a young woman symbolising eternal life.

The message is clear: observe the rule otherwise you will die and you will not have eternal life.

Other capitals portray scenes from the Old Testament, Noah in his vineyard, the miracle of Joshua stopping the sun, the crossing of the Jordan, etc. More familiar scenes are also depicted: arguments among the monks, the father abbot meting out punishment.