Pilaster (Tetramorph) from the Parapet of a Pulpit with Symbol of the Evangelists 1302 - 1310

Curator: Here we have a piece titled "Pilaster (Tetramorph) from the Parapet of a Pulpit with Symbol of the Evangelists" created by Giovanni Pisano between 1302 and 1310. It's carved from marble. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the stillness, despite the grouping of figures. The cool, smooth surface of the marble contrasts with the subject matter. It almost has an ethereal quality to it. Curator: Precisely. It's important to note that the sculpture would originally have been part of a larger pulpit structure. The specific commission, the material, the workshops and the economic and labor structure during the construction, tell a wider cultural narrative of artisanal practices in that period. Editor: And consider those symbolic figures. We see an angel above, then the lion, ox, and eagle…the Tetramorph! This evokes not just the Gospels themselves, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but a connection to older, mystical traditions and the notion of divine knowledge manifested on earth. Curator: Marble, in its inherent worth, also had significance. The accessibility and the processing, or lack of it, indicates budget and social standing in the community where the work would be found. These considerations determined so much of the artistic vision of that time. Editor: These evangelist symbols had a visual shorthand for communicating narratives and concepts across diverse populations within the Church. Its symbolic content became intrinsically more important than simply just artistry. Curator: I would add, too, that even in that context, the material craftsmanship reflects socio-economic value. Pisano didn't just conceptualize; the skill involved to reveal those figures from the marble adds an intrinsic dimension beyond representation. Editor: It reminds us how visual symbolism functions, its lasting imprint, transcending specific moments or viewers and offering pathways to cultural memory. Curator: A powerful synthesis of spiritual meaning manifested through labor and material means. Editor: An echo from the past resonates still in the stone.