About

Title of the work: Sculpted group "The Wedding at Cana": female column-statue and capital
Associated sculptor: Master of the Wedding at Cana
Dimensions: Height: 147cm x Width: 55cm x Depth: 55cm
Material: limestone

According to the Gospel of Saint John, the Wedding at Cana in Galilee is the site of Jesus' first miracle. The capital depicts the various scenes of the banquet narrative, with the newlyweds and guests seated at the table, the jars of water turned into wine, and the servants bringing the food miraculously multiplied.

On the shaft of the column sits a female figure, associated with the Queen of Sheba, in connection with the Wedding at Cana.

Description of the Work

Capital - First Face

The faces of the capital of this sculpted group were conceived so that each face tells one part of the story it is meant to recount, in the manner of the pages of a book.
Logically, the first face tells the beginning of the Wedding at Cana scene. Seated around a banquet are gathered the most important figures of the story: the two spouses on the left, Jesus Christ accompanied by a lacunary figure on the right.

Capital - Second Face

The story continues on the banquet, presenting the rest of the guests: here, what can be supposed to be apostles, judging by their bare feet. One may note that one of the figures holds his index finger pointing towards the third face of the capital, as if to encourage the viewer to continue reading.

Capital - Third Face

The penultimate face is rather surprising in its approach, because, although it continues the story by showing the jars of water that will become the subject of the miracle, it is surprising for its lack of action or figures.
Only the arm of a servant can be glimpsed on the right corner, serving as a subtle transition to the fourth and final face.

Capital - Fourth Face

This last face shows the servants of the banquet, hard at work. They seem to be using the jars from face 3 to serve the guests of face 1, ending the narrative with a loop.

Column - Female Figure

This work is composed of five columns in total. On one of them stands a female figure, particularly detailed in the pattern of her sumptuous garments. For lack of inscription or attribute, it is impossible to link her to a particular figure, although she must have been fairly important, given the efforts made in her representation.
The fact that Léon Pressouyre associated her with this capital suggests that she could be the bride of the Wedding at Cana.

State of Preservation

The statue is highly fragmented, with many parts missing. One of its columns, as well as fragments of the characters from the capital, are absent. Nevertheless, the scenes remain legible and identifiable.