Ely Cathedral: Carving Over Prior's Door 1891

Editor: This photograph, "Ely Cathedral: Carving Over Prior's Door" by Frederick H. Evans, taken in 1891, shows such intricate stonework. It’s really striking how the photograph captures the depth and detail, almost making the stone come alive. How do you interpret the imagery used in this carving? Curator: What draws me in is the immediate evocation of power – think of the Romanesque period’s fascination with depicting Christ in Majesty, enthroned and flanked by angelic figures. What purpose did images such as these serve in the cultural memory? Editor: To show the power of the church, the divine right? It seems really tied to a sense of order. Curator: Precisely, order both earthly and heavenly. The tympanum is full of symbolism – notice the almond shape encompassing the figures; it's a mandorla, signifying divine light and holiness. Consider, too, what architectural space means – a threshold. This sculpture over the door visually articulates a sacred crossing, where earthly pilgrims prepare for the transition from outside to inside the sacred space. Editor: That's fascinating! I didn’t even think of it as a point of transition, a visual and spiritual gate. How do you think this photograph, taken so long after the carving was created, changes its symbolic power? Curator: The photograph, in its black and white stillness, offers a new context. Stripped of its original architectural environment and translated through Evans's lens, the carving now speaks more to universal themes of faith and artistic endurance, and becomes a vessel for our own contemplations on time and belief. Does the photo speak to you differently knowing this context? Editor: Absolutely. I now see layers of meaning and cultural history embedded within this single image. Curator: Indeed, each line, curve, and symbol is an echo of centuries past, connecting us to the enduring power of human creativity and faith.