Baptistery

Articles in the second bay

V. In the second bay, the web on the left shows Christ in Limbo and the Resurrection, in accordance with the fifth Article of the Creed: DESCENDIT AD INFEROS, TERTIA DIE RESURREXIT A MORTUIS (“He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead”). Below, Christ brings the fruits of redemption to the just who lived before His death and resurrection. Crowded into a cavernous cave, these dead come forward and turn their pleading eyes towards the Savior. Among them can be recognized the patriarchs: Adam is shown as an old man with a long gray beard, stretching out his hand to Christ and bowing, while Eve kneels with her arms folded. On the right is John the Baptist, dressed in animal skins and a purple cloak and holding a scroll with the words ECCE AGNUS DEI (“Behold the Lamb of God”). John is the link between the Old and New Testaments, since he is considered the last of the prophets and the first Saint of the New Dispensation; you will note that, compared to the other souls in Limbo, he has a halo. On the left, the devil has just come out of the door to the Underworld. Up above is the Resurrection: Christ stands on his half-open marble tomb holding the flag with a red cross on it in his hand.  In the lower right corner, following the usual iconographic scheme, is the apostle Thomas who says: DESCENDIT AD INFEROS, TERTIA DIE RESURREXIT A MORTUIS (“He . . .

  • Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, Fifth Article of the Creed, 1450.
  • Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, Sixth Article of the Creed, 1450.
  • Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, Seventh Article of the Creed, 1450.
  • Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, Eighth Article of the Creed, 1450.