MEDIEVAL SCULPTOR, German
(active c. 1200 in Hesse)

Capital with bearded mask and heads

c. 1200
Stone
Church of St John the Baptist, Spieskappel

With a few exceptions, there are no counterparts to the extensive visual narratives on the capitals in Spain, southern France and Burgundy, in German churches. Most of the capitals only have geometric shapes, animals and plant decorations, masks, or monsters.

At the former Premonstratensian Spieskappel monastery church there are capitals which show a combination of ornamental patterns and imaginary creatures. Some of the capitals also depict figurative scenes.

The picture shows an example from the nave of the former Premonstratensian monastery church of St John the Baptist in Spieskappel (Hesse).