About the Art:
Pilgrims, Last Judgment (detail)
Gislebertus (?)
1130-35
West Tympanum
Cathedral of Saint Lazarus
Autun, France

This pair of figures is a detail from the monumental Last Judgment tympanum inside the west entrance of Autun Cathedral. The Autun Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Lazarus, was built to serve the steady stream of pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela, one of the prime pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages. The figures in this image are depicted, among those being raised from the dead, in the horizontal band beneath the main scene of Christ at the Last Judgment. Most importantly, they appear directly beneath Christ’s right hand among the blessed being welcomed into Heaven. The two figures carry purses on their shoulders bearing a cross and scallop shell, insignia clearly identifying them as religious pilgrims. They are pictured climbing, faces turned upward to Christ, indicating their spiritual ascent exemplified in their arduous and frequently perilous journey to Compostela. This vignette provided encouragement to pilgrims stopping at the Cathedral at Autun, reminding them to persist since their reward would be Heaven.

About the Artist:
Gislebertus (active 1120-1135) has long been presumed to be the artist responsible for the decoration of the Cathedral of Saint Lazare at Atun, France, due to the appearance of this name in the west tympanum inscription. The chapel's decoration is considered to be some of the most original and impressive sculptural work of the Middle Ages. Recent scholarship, however, has called into question whether the inscription actually refers to the sculptor due to the Latin phrasing “Gislebertus hoc fecit” meaning “Gislebertus made this,” which could also refer to a patron of the work. It was common practice at this time to acknowledge patrons but not artists by name, thus there is a need to be cautious about assuming the inscription refers to the sculptor. Nevertheless, the sculptures at Autun are some of the most human, expressive, and touching Romanesque sculptures that exist, and must be the work of a master sculptor whose influence can be traced to other French church sculptures and whose techniques helped pave the way for the Gothic style. The majority of the column capitals in the interior of Autun Cathedral are also ascribed to the same sculptor. The original capitals were removed from the Cathedral and are currently on display in the Musée Rolin near the Cathedral in Autun.

About the Music: 
“The Pilgrim's Song” from the album The Gloaming 2

The Lyrics:
(Lyrics translated from the Irish language)
The land spoke like a temple
The River’s journey was winding
To their knees the valleys genuflected
The sign of the cross on the branches

I heard the gospel on the wind
And holiness was upon the earth
This was where my first love lived
I'd not been this way for so long

I saw life like a tale from the Fianna
Long ago when it was morning
The way a magic wand takes the sword's shape
In the hands of children

There is a vision, that I know well
Simmering in the womb of my imagination
A bright flame without substance, a breath,
Pleading for an appropriate shape.

About the LyrIcist: 
Seán Ó Ríordáin (1916–1977) was an Irish language poet during the twentieth century. His books include Brosna (1964) and Eireaball Spideoige (1952). Ó Ríordáin delineates his personal aesthetic and theology in the preface to his first collection of poetry, Eireaball Spideoige (A Robin’s Tail, 1952), in which he highlights the relationship between artistic expression and being. The clash between traditional Irish and contemporary European influences was one of the most consistent conflicts in his work. As well as writing poetry, Ó Ríordáin wrote a column in The Irish Times during the latter years of his life in which he spoke passionately about national affairs and politics. A number of his poems have appeared in English translation, for example in Modern Irish Poetry: An Anthology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%A1n_%C3%93_R%C3%ADord%C3%A1in

About the Composer:
Iarla Ó Lionáird (b. 1964) is an Irish singer, record producer, and a founding member of the Irish-American supergroup The Gloaming. He is a traditional sean-nós singer (Irish for “old style”) with performances characterized by complex ornamentation, haunting tone, and minimal accompaniment. His vocal style and thoughtful lyric-writing draw from Irish tradition through the centuries, conveying both deep sorrow and joy. He has recorded several solo albums for Real World Records.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iarla_%C3%93_Lion%C3%A1ird

About the Performers:
The Gloaming is a contemporary Irish/American music groups formed in 2011 and comprised of fiddle player Martin Hayes, guitarist Dennis Cahill, vocalist Iarla O Lionáird, fiddle player Caoimhín O Raghallaigh, and pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett. The Gloaming have headlined at major venues including the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, the Lincoln Center, the Philharmonie de Paris, the Kennedy Center, and the Walker Art Center, all the while maintaining an annual residency at Dublin's National Concert Hall. The group has been credited with a retake on traditional Irish music through a modern prism via the stylistic elements of post-rock, jazz, contemporary classical, chamber, and minimalism. Lyricist O Lionáird often uses motifs, poetic verse, and whole songs from the ancient Irish canon, with some lyrics dating back centuries.
http://www.thegloaming.net/

About the Poet:
John Donne (1572-1631) was an Anglican cleric and one of England’s most gifted and influential metaphysical poets of his time. Raised a Roman Catholic, Donne later converted to Anglicanism. His work is distinguished by its emotional intensity and its capacity to deeply delve into the paradoxes of faith, human and divine love, and personal salvation. His works are noted for their strong, sensual style and include a variety of forms including: sonnets, love poems, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires, and sermons. His poetry is noted for its eloquent language, fusion of intellect and passion, and inventiveness of metaphor. In 1621, he was appointed the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London and also served as a member of Parliament in 1601 and in 1614. After a resurgence in his popularity in the early 20th century, Donne’s reputation as one of the greatest writers of English prose and poetry was established.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-donne

About the Devotion Writer:  
Dr. Andy Draycott
Associate Professor of
Theology and Christian Ethics
Talbot School of Theology
Biola University

Andy Draycott is a British immigrant scholar living in Southern California with his family. He is a lifelong Charles Schultz’ Peanuts fan, enjoys reading novels and social history, cycling, running and baking. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Theology and Christian Ethics at Biola’s Talbot School of Theology. He counts God’s blessings in Christ, in local church, in family life, and in delightful work colleagues.