Cain Slays Abel, from the Chapter House in Sigena

This monumental wall painting from the Chapter House of the Monastery of Sigena in Aragon, dated to around 1200, depicts the Old Testament scene of Cain slaying Abel. The Master of the Sigena Chapter House created one of the most important Romanesque-to-Gothic transitional mural cycles in Spain. The dramatic narrative style shows clear influence from English and Byzantine manuscript painting, reflecting the international cultural connections of the Aragonese court under Queen Sancha.

Painted in fresco secco on the chapter house walls, the composition uses bold outlines and expressive gestures to convey the violence of the scene. The figural style bridges Romanesque conventions with an emerging Gothic naturalism, particularly evident in the dynamic poses and emotional intensity of the figures.