Decorative Violence and Narrative Intrigue in the Romanesque Portal Sculptures at Souillac

This dissertation examines the portal sculptures of Ste. Marie at Souillac, focusing on the narrative relief of Theophilus and the decorative but violent imagery of attacking beasts on the front of the Souillac pillars, two very different problems in interpretation. Theophilus' pact with the Devil and subsequent redemption after penitential prayer to the Virgin is considered in relation to iconography, literary and homiletic traditions and contemporary historical episodes. While chosen to promote a penitential Cult to the Virgin at Souillac, here the legend stresses basic spiritual themes: temptation, sin, penance and redemption, not incompatible with programs of other 12th century portals depicting more traditional biblical subjects. It is thus distinct from later 13th century renditions more overtly glorifying the Virgin. The innovative rendition of Theophilus' pact with the Devil in the form of a contemporary feudal homage ceremony, not only served to make the spiritual message more vivid, but had ramifications in more strictly temporal and social terms. The decorative fantasy of the animal imagery of the pillars, ostensibly not a religious theme, demands a complex study. Considered in relation to the trumeaus of Moissac and Beaulieu, the study demonstrates the significance compositional form, the secular iconographic tradition of devouring beasts, the man attacked by beasts in relation to images of the torments of hell and to more positive scenes: Daniel in the Lion's Den, the Ascent of Alexander and Adam in Paradise. Much attention is paid to the theme of man attacked by beasts in literary and exegetical traditions and the liturgy. This theme in the liturgy of the Passion of Christ and the Liturgy for the Dead supports a metaphorical interpretation of the pillars, the small pillar in relation to the sacrificial death of Christ and the large pillar, to prayerful pleas for the Dead, which complement the narrative theme of Theophilus' penitential prayer. The presence of a medieval cemetery under the porch suggests the portal would have functioned in relation to the Cult for the Dead promoted at Souillac in conjunction with a pilgrimage to the Virgin shown to have special powers to aid penitent sinners.