Two of the temple’s
most beautiful capitals are inside the south porch, the ‘Lonja Chica’,
at either side of the southern portal of the cathedral. The capital on the
right shows the Sacrifice of Isaac. Isaac is represented by the naked figure
in the overhanging angle of the capital and Abraham is shown being restrained
by an angel while, on the south face of the capital, another angel is depicted
preparing the alternative offering of a ram on the sacrificial altar.
This capital is considered
the masterpiece of the Jaca style of decoration. It is well preserved; Isaac’s
left shoulder is missing a small fragment, otherwise it is in excellent
condition. The hairstyles of both Abraham and Isaac are very elaborate and
unusual. Nowadays, the hairstyles would be described as rasta-style dreadlocks.
According to Gaillard it is “the
most extraordinary known nude in Romanesque sculpture, undoubtedly classically
inspired”. It is also known as the ‘capitel del
canon’, canon referring to the classical canon of human proportion
which is adhered to in the sculpture.
The capital on the left of the door depicts
a rare theme in Romanesque iconography: the story of Balaam and his donkey.
Two of the corners of the capital are also adorned with the emblematic pitones
jaqueses, horn-like decorations associated with the Jaca style.
These horn-like striated decorations with a forward and
downward curve are one of the trademarks of the Master of Jaca. So also
is the rope decoration to be found in the central and upper part of each
capital and the ball ornament which appears even on the bases of the columns.
The fact that these capitals have a sculpted third
face, next to the wall and practically hidden from view, is evidence
that these capitals were not made for this location but were capitals brought
from elsewhere and reused here.
Great care was taken in carving the tackle
of the donkey, including the long stirrup into which Balaam puts his foot.
Also of outstanding perfection is the carving of the angel with his sword
held high to stop Balaam.
The theme of this capital is very rare in Romanesque iconography.
Personally I have only seen it replicated, very similar in form to that
in Jaca, on the beautiful portal of San
Zoilo de Carrión de los Condes (Palencia).
The episode portrayed on
the capital is a reference to the Old Testament story about Balaam (Numbers
22: 21-36), a prophet from Mesopotamia who was summoned by king Balak of
Moab to put a curse on Israel.
"Balaam got up
in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But
God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the
road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants
were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the
road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field.
Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards,
with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she
pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he
beat her again.
Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where
there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the
donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, and he was
angry and beat her with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s
mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you
beat me these three times?”
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had
a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have
always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”
“No,” he said.
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord
standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell face
down.
The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey
these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a
reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these
three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you
by now, but I would have spared her"
(Numbers 22:21-34, The Holy Bible, New International Version)
