The Cathedral of Modena from Adam to Wiligelmo

Modena Cathedral is often compared to a ‘book of stone’ due to the extraordinary wealth of its ornamentation. Its countless carved figures arouse interest and curiosity, even though their meaning can be difficult to understand. This book provides readers with the necessary tools to restore the voice of those images, revealing their deeper meanings and discovering the thought processes of those who created them.

The Duomo is home to sacred and profane figures, characters from the Bible and literature, in addition to real and imaginary animals such as lions, dragons, sirens and other monstrous creatures. Artists, builders and patrons also gravitate around Modena Cathedral, inextricably linked to the building’s history. The thoroughness of this study, based on in-depth scrutiny of historical sources, and the abundance of images make it a valuable tool that provides a new and enjoyable interpretation of the Cathedral.