Bishop Bernward traveled to Rome and was exposed to many different forms of art. Some say that this trip is what inspired the design on the huge doors to the Abbey of St. Michael in Hildesheim, Germany. The bronze cast doors stand sixteen feet tall, with lion heads for handles. Eight panels on each door tell the story of the original sin and of salvation. The figures in each panel are in lower relief, meaning their bodies were in a shallow relief carving with the heads sticking out and 3D. The panels tell a story, both individually and as a whole. The right side has stories from the Old Testament, and the left is the New Testament. The doors are meant to be read one of two ways. The first is to read down the right side, beginning with the formation of Eve, through the original sin and ending with Cain murdering Abel. Then, the left side is meant to be read from bottom up. Starting with the Annunciation of Mary, and ending with the Promise of Return to Paradise. This movement in the story is significant in the way that while you read down the left side, your head ends up looking down, almost like it is hanging in shame. Then, as you read up the right side, your head ends up looking upward in salvation. Another way the doors can be read is from left to right, comparing a story from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
One example of this comparison is the third and fourth pairs from the top, the sections titled “The Fall,” and “the Passion.” These panels tell about the original sin on the left, where Adam and Eve are tempted by the snake, and Judgment of them from God; and the judgment and crucifixion of Christ on the right. I feel these sections were paired together because they both show a trial and result from someone’s wrong doing. On one hand, we have the sin that started it all, and on the right, the action that ended it. It’s almost like this section is truly the beginning and the ending of the stories of the fate of humans. On the left, is the moment that humans became capable of sinning, and is when our suffering began. However, on the right is when the suffering was put to an end, and when we were given the understanding that our sins were going to be forgiven.
By having these panels across from each other, it is significant because it shows the beginning and end of sin. The first temptation, and the first act of God’s forgiveness; by having His own son dying for our salvation.
