1. The Doors of Bishop Bernward
1015
made for the Abbey Church of Saint Michael
Hildesheim, Germany

2. Creation of Adam & Eve Presented to Adam

3. What do we need to take notes on?
the stylized plant forms indicate that this space is in the garden of Eden
note the relative sizes of the figures; not surprisingly, God is much larger
also, note the artist’s naïve or inexperienced use of space: figures are laid against the panel; they do not authentically occupy the space

4. Temptation and Fall

5. What do we need to take notes on?
can you find the forbidden tree of knowledge? –it is on the far left side of the frame
an argument: the snake holding the apple appears to be one of the branches of the tree; this purposeful design argues that evil often cloaks itself in the seemingly mundane—one must be vigilant

6. Accusation and Judgment of Adam and Eve

7. What do we need to take notes on?
the postures of Adam and Eve’s bodies indicate the heavy weight of their shame

8. Expulsion & Arduous Life on Earth

9. Expulsion from Paradise

10. What do we need to take notes on?
the archangel Michael casts Adam and Eve out of paradise—notice his sword
the artist has used a stylized representation of flowering trees to represent Eden while the carefully articulated textures of building represents the fallen world—the world in which the viewer of this door lives
note that Eve looks back—the argument?

11. Cain and Abel: Offerings + Abel Murdered

12. What do we need to take notes on?
God is represented as an overlarge hand within a mandorla
in the second panel two scenes are written across one panel—murder and then God’s judgment: "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."

13. Annunciation & Nativity

14. in the nativity, the described space of the panel is not coherent: objects seem to float in this scene; also note the way that the stylized architectural forms do not represent resolved geometries—walls seem broken up
in the space of the annunciation the artist has been more successful articulating the space but has also attempted less: the two figures occupy a shallow space directly across from each other; the space is framed by architectural motifs

15. Joseph waits for the birth of Christ.
Again, what role is he given? Where is he located in the frame? What then is the argument?

16. Gifts of the Magi & Presentation at the Temple

17. where is Joseph in the frame. does he have a halo
where is Joseph in the frame? does he have a halo? what then is the argument?

18. Presentation at the Temple

19. just glory in the beautifully, though primitively, articulated temple…
what small details do you see? the curtains the rectangular shape which probably represents the altar or the tabernacle what about the CROSS—should that be there or does it remind the viewer of the future…that Christianity will become the true religion, that this small baby being presented at the temple will be crucified…

20. Judgment of Christ by Pilate & Crucifixion

21. in Pilate’s judgment, can you find the devil?
also, note the relative size of Christ; he is more powerful than his captors—he is not submitting to them but to his Father’s will (did Adam and Eve?)

22. Women at the Tomb & Ascension

23. Christ returns to paradise—see the gate?
a fragment from the Nicene Creed: “…he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father…”
the man “following” him may be James or Peter to whom apocrypha argues that Christ spoke before he ascended
apocrypha: 1. various early Christian writings proposed as additions to the New Testament but rejected by the major canons. 2. writings or statements of questionable authorship or authenticity

24. Arduous Life on Earth + Gifts of Magi