Today, Robyn and I and some friends caravanned to a fascinating city to the north of Rome called Orvieto. It has a Duomo (city's main cathedral) that is every bit as splendid as those found in Siena and Florence. It's been several years since I was in Florence or Siena; but I believe the artwork in this cathedral surpasses either of those other Tuscan cathedrals. There are astonishing statues of the 12 apostles from the New Testament (excluding, as always, Judas Iscariot, who is replaced by Paul), and a touching pietà with two more persons present than in Michelangelo's rendition in St. Peter's Basilica.  From what we've been able to ascertain, the sculptor of the apostles had an assistant who produced the pietà; but it clearly shows that the assistant was really the more capable.  Consider this version of Thomas, who is usually depicted with some tool of science--meant to demonstrate his unwillingness to believe in the Savior's resurrection until he saw and handled the Lord's body. I think that's an unfair characterization--but it aids in identification of who the sculptor intended to portray.  (Peter is usually easy to spot because he always has keys in his hand.) 

In this instance Thomas has a carpenter's square in his left hand. The ability of these artists to depict flowing fabric, and malleable flesh astonishes me. These sculptures were out in the weather for centuries but have been brought inside the chapel of the cathedral where they have a commanding presence.  As I noted above, these are all magnificent works of art; but the images of the crucified Christ on Mary's lap, with an unidentified woman at Christ's feet, and a man holding a ladder, hammer and nails standing behind Mary, is powerful.  The nails apparently signify those that had been used to crucify the Savior.  I wish I could find out more about this scene, because I think it implies that the man holding the ladder was Joseph, Mary's husband--thought to have been a carpenter. Everything in the portrayal is sculpted from Marble: the ladder, rope, hand holding the hammer, and all four personages.  I can't express how beautiful the work is.