Reliefs on pier 1
by MAITANI, Lorenzo, Marble
The Gothic fa�ade of the Orvieto Cathedral is one of the great masterpieces of the Late Middle Ages. The bas-reliefs on the piers depict biblical stories from the Old and New Testament. They are considered among the most famous of all 14th-century sculpture.
The first pier contains 13 scenes from the Book of Genesis. They depict from bottom left to top right:
- Scene 1: Creation of the water, plants and birds.
- Scene 2: Creation of the animals.
- Scene 3: Creation of Adam.
- Scene 4: God infuses life into Adam and God takes a rib from Adam as he sleeps.
- Scene 5: Creation of Eve.
- Scene 6: God gives instructions on the Tree of Life.
- Scene 7: The Original Sin.
- Scene 8: Expulsion from Paradise.
- Scene 9: Work of the ancestors.
- Scene 10: Cain and Abel making offerings to God.
- Scene 11: Killing of Abel.
- Scene 12: Naomi teaches to read, Jubal discover music.
- Scene 13: A son of Adam with compass.