Mediaeval Sicily, aspects of life and art in the middle ages . nstance, one finds a rearing bull at an anglewhen one expects a bent leaf or two. A charminggroup is represented by PL XL. with an elegantscroll filling the space behind the figures, and akind of pretty flower (convolvulus ?) taking theplace of the spirals. The heavy cornucopias onPI. XLI. are also noticeable as evidently inspired bythe capitals in the nave of the cathedral—but thereis no limit or end to the decorative brio of theMonreale workshop. There is also a certain number of fine and originalCorinthian derivatives ; some Byz
Mediaeval Sicily, aspects of life and art in the middle ages . nstance, one finds a rearing bull at an anglewhen one expects a bent leaf or two. A charminggroup is represented by PL XL. with an elegantscroll filling the space behind the figures, and akind of pretty flower (convolvulus ?) taking theplace of the spirals. The heavy cornucopias onPI. XLI. are also noticeable as evidently inspired bythe capitals in the nave of the cathedral—but thereis no limit or end to the decorative brio of theMonreale workshop. There is also a certain number of fine and originalCorinthian derivatives ; some Byzantesque withbirds pecking at clusters of grapes hung at the angles,recalling those of the Zisa (there are also someByzantesque basket capitals with little men bunchedup at the angles) ; others, a large group, Graeco-Roman, some of them evidently inspired again bythe beautiful classical capitals of the interior, withtheir cornucopia, replacing volutes, at the angles. Itis one of these that has a signature : EGO RO-MANUS FILIUS CONSTANTINUS THE CLOISTER OF MONREALE Why ? This signature cannot represent themaster of the whole cloister as was first believedin the joy of discovery, it is not quite possibleto identify him with any of the best work. Thenwhy did he put his signature to a purely decorativecapital ? In his naive pride at having formed anew variant of this decorative formula which metwith the approbation of his fellows ? There areseveral capitals of this type scattered throughoutthe cloister. And why the son of Constantinethe worker in marble ? Was this Constantinea famous craftsman to be thus mentioned by hisson with pride ? A very fascinating hypothesismight be constructed if one could only acceptthe suggestion of V. di Giovanni, who identifiesthis Constantine with the Constantinus dictusmarmorarius, frater olim magistri Simonis marmorarii,de Civitate Panormi, who in 1202 offered himselfin oblation to the Teutonic order, giving all hisearthly posses
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectart, bookyear1910
