Fig. 1305.—Priory Church of St. Clement.
Effigy in South Transept.
left is a hunting scene, a knight with sword and spear, followed by attendants holding dogs in leash. The next panel contains three stags, well carved. To the right of this is a panel representing an angel holding up a pair of scales to weigh the souls of the departed, in which process he is interfered with by a demon. A similar scene is carved on one of the pier caps in the choir of Iona Cathedral (see Fig. [985]).
To the right is a long panel containing the following inscription in Gothic letters:—
Hic · loculus · cōposuit · · · · Allexāder · filius · Vilm̄i · Mac · Clod · dn̄o · de · dūvegan · Anno · dn̄i · Mº · CCCCCº · XXVIIIº
The meaning of this apparently is that Alexander, son of William MacLeod of Dunvegan, made this tomb A.D. 1528.
On the pedestal under the arch lies the effigy of the said Alexander M‘Leod of Dunvegan (Fig. [1304]), clad in full armour, and holding a long sword with cross hilt. The effigy is unfortunately much decayed. The head rests on a pillow with an animal above, and the feet rest on a lion. At the side of the monument a lion encloses the tomb.
The style of the carving and the subjects represented recall the sculptures at Iona. The figures of the abbot and bishop are similar in style to that of the abbess at the Iona Nunnery, and the scene of the angel weighing souls with a demon interfering occurs on one of the caps in the Iona