| Poems | MSS / layout | Miracles | Keywords | Poncelet | Bibliography | Search |
For the purposes of the new edition, every poem has been assigned a unique short title. The original short titles, taken eclectically from a number of sources, are retained as alternative short titles.
For new critical texts of the poems, return to the listing page and click on the poem number, or go to the archive of texts .
For epigraphs and layout information click on the appropriate manuscript location.
For information on Latin and vernacular sources of miracle stories follow the links to Miracles and collections.
Follow the links to the appropriate pages of Todd McComb and Pierre Roberge's online discography, to the BITAGAP archive, and to linked entries in the Bibliography.
Home Page
| CSM Number : 219 | |||
| Short name: | The Pulpit in the Cathedral of Siena | Alternative: | Pulpit in Siena Cathedral |
| Incipit: | Non conven aa omagen | ||
| Refrain: | Non conven aa omagen/ da Madre do grorioso/ Rei que cabo dela seja/ figura do dem’ astroso. | ||
| Summary of narrative | |||
| Setting: | Siena | Protagonist(s): | an image of the Virgin |
|
Some master sculptors came to Siena to carve a pulpit out of white marble for the bishop of the cathedral. They carved many narrative scenes on the pulpit, and images of the Virgin and Child, and of the devil. They made the devil look ugly, but because the marble was white, he did not look as dreadful as he might have. The Virgin decided to modify the devil’s portrait and turned the white marble “black as pitch,” so that he would appear ugly and disgusting. When the people, gathered for mass, saw that the devil had been transformed they began to laugh. The bishop ordered one of his men to wash and scrape the image, but it could not be cleaned. The bishop, realising that it was a miracle, prostrated himself before the altar and begged Mary’s pardon. He apologised for ordering the figure of the devil to be carved next to the Virgin’s image. |
|||
| Metrical data | |||
| Stanza: | 15 15 15 15' | Refrain: | 15' 15' |
| No. of Stanzas: | 10 | ||
| Rhyme scheme: | AA | bbba | Zejel: | Yes |
| MS locations: | |||
| F72, E219 | |||
| Poncelet reference | |||
| None | |||
| Keywords | |||
| bishop, colour (transformed), image (of devil), image (of Virgin Mary), pulpit, repentance (see also confession), sculptor, pitch | |||
| Discography | |||
| Click HERE for a list of recordings of this poem | |||
| BITAGAP ID | |||
| 3970 | |||
| Bibliography | |||
| Dos preconceitos de Afonso X, o Sábio Bagby Jr., Alberto I. | |||
| Virgin, Devil, Bishop, King: Nicola Pisano’s Pulpit Jackson, Deirdre | |||
| Saint and Simulacra: Images of the Virgin in the Cantigas de Santa María of Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284) Jackson, Deirdre Elizabeth | |||
| Viaje a Italia a través de las Cantigas Historiadas de Alfonso X el Sabio Molina López, Laura | |||
| Aberturas e finais: rubricas, refrães, estrofes iniciais e estrofes terminais nas Cantigas de Santa Maria Parkinson, Stephen | |||
| Tres ensayos sobre el arte en las Cantigas de Santa Maria de Alfonso el Sabio Sánchez Cantón, Francisco Javier | |||
| Interpretación organológica de la miniatura del folio 201-versus del códice b.I.2. escurialense Torres, Jacinto | |||