Frieze with a relief of King David Tuning his Harp

myminifactory

Atop this relief stands a magnificent sculpture featuring figures and monsters amidst swirling foliage. The legendary creatures of ancient lore take center stage here; on the main panel, a centaur - half man, half horse - draws back his bow to aim at a harpy, its body that of a bird with a woman's head. On the shorter sides, a hunter is trapped between two monstrous birds, while a basilisk bites its own tail. The relief below depicts King David carefully tuning his harp. As the king of Israel and a skilled musician and poet, he was also revered in the Middle Ages as the author of the Psalms, a book from the Old Testament. In those times, music was considered both a mathematical science and a path to wisdom. As a king and musician, David was well-versed in the mathematical laws that governed the world created by God. Here, he is not playing but tuning his harp, taking on the role of creating harmony. Psalm 150 urges believers to praise the Lord with music and dance. However, David is most commonly depicted on early Gothic portals in the Île-de-France region as a direct ancestor to Christ, emphasizing his royal descent. By depicting him as a musician, the artist reinforces the idea that he was chosen by God to reign over His kingdom on earth. David is carved directly into the same block of marble as the column supporting him, giving the impression that he is projecting outward. The intricate details in the costumes and drapery add to the sense of verticality in the sculpture. By tuning his harp, King David organizes the world in harmony under Christ's law, serving as a model for Christian kings who praise the Lord. Like the embrasures on Gothic portals, the kings and queens of the Old Testament stand alongside the patriarchs and prophets announcing the coming of Christ. The Queen of Saba with her gifts and King Solomon prefigure the Adoration of the Magi, foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus.