The Deësis

13th century
Capital in the Sarmental (south) Doorway, Burgos Cathedral, Spain

The artist compresses the iconography arrayed more spaciously on the north tympanum of the same cathedral. Mary and John the Baptist stand to Christ's right and left in poses of supplication, as in the traditional Deësis. Behind them, angels present the instruments of the Passion by which he died for mankind:


Behind Mary, the angel presents the crown of thorns; behind John, the cross and nails.


Read more about the Deësis.

Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.