Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 6.djvu/477

 us. vi. NOV. 16, 1912.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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CRUCIFIX ON THE EDGAR TOWER, WOR- CESTER (11 S. vi. 329). MB. STAPLETON MARTIN takes some exception to the treat- ment of a crucifix shown in the hand of a modern statue on this tower, which figure represents a bishop who died A.D. 992. The Christ is draped in the usual loincloth, and the feet are crossed. He thinks that towards the close of the tenth century the usual treatment for such figures was to clothe them in long robes, to keep the feet separate, and to put a crown on the head. An examination of old examples, at home and abroad, sug- gests that there was really no fixed rule at the date in question.

A fine ivory of the ninth century, of which a large illustration occurs in Mrs. Jameson's 'History of our Lord ' (1890), shows the body nude save for the loincloth, the feet apart, and a crown held considerably above the head by a couple of angels, touched from still higher, but not held, by the hand of the Almighty, any suggestion of the form of the latter being hidden by clouds.

Tyrwhitt, in ' Art Teaching of the Primitive Church,' states that, according to Guericke, crucifixes did not appear at all in churches until after the seventh century. One for- merly in the old Basilica of St. Peter at Rome, which Roc-ca dated at 706, had a long tunic, and above the head a cruciform nimbus with the title " I.N.R.I." upon it. Another, known as the Crucifix of Charlemagne, in the same fabric (probably dating about 815), was clothed by an ample waistcloth ; the wound in the side was shown, and there was also a nimbus. These and others of much the same period uniformly represent our Lord affixed on the cross by four nails. The author quoted adds : two nails are always shown in the feet of ancient examples ; the crossed legs and a single spike is a treatment belonging to a later period. The suppe- daneum, or rest for the feet, occurs on crosses as early as the time of Leo III. (A.D. 795).

Mrs. Jameson, in the book already re- ferred to, mentions that St. Augustine said :

" On early crucifixes He is represented as young and beardless, always without the crown of thorns, but not always with the nimbus alive and erect apparently elate; His feet always separate and with two nails upon the foot- board to which they are attached ; the arm at right angles with the body the hands straight the eyes open. - The figure is sometimes draped to the feet and to the wrists. In other examples the perizonium, or cloth around the loins, extends to the knees in front, and lower still behind. No signs of bodily suffering are there ; the sublime idea of voluntary sacrifice is kept paramount."

The gifted author adds :

" Mr. Curzon, one of our highest authorities on this subject, states that ' before the eleventh century the figure was always clothed in a robe.' "

And then she goes on to say :

" It appears from more recent investigations of authentic crucifixes of the ninth century for instance, that of the Emperor Lothario that some were simply attired with a drapery from the hips to the knees. We are inclined to believe the draped figures of our Lord to be always of Byzantine origin (they exist chiefly in Greek manuscripts), and that difficulty of rendering the nude figure is a clue to its being thus covered. In a legendary sense, however, another cause may be suggested. Molanus asserts that the Greek Church always covered the Christ on the Cross with clothes, in explanation of which he gives the following story. A priest, who had exhibited to the people a figure of Christ only- cinctured with a cloth, was visited by an appari- tion which said, ' All ye go covered with various raiment, and me ye show naked. Go forthwith and cover me with clothing.' The priest, not understanding what was meant, took no notice; and on the third day the vision appeared again, and, having scourged him severely with rods, said, ' Have I not told you to cover me with garments ? Go now and cover with clothing the picture in which I appear crucified.' "

The most ancient crucifix reputed to be in existence is preserved in the Cathedral Church of St. Martin at Lucca. I gave an illustration and lengthy description of it in The Building News for 28 March, 1902. It is very jealously treasured, and can only be seen upon seven days in the year. It may be useful to mention these : Good Friday, 3 May (the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross at Jerusalem by St. Helena, A.D. 326), 7 Sept. (eve of the Feast of Nativity of the Madonna), 11, 12, and 13 Sept. (the three days preceding the Exalta- tion of the Holy Cross), and finally upon the last Friday in November.

Tradition affirms that this figure, made of cedar of Lebanon, was carved by Nicodemus, son of Girion, who died A.D. 52, and be- queathed it, prior to his decease, to his friend Isaccar. There is a jump of some centuries after that in its assumed history. It is asserted that Adrian I. (who died on Christmas Day, 795), one time during the nearly twenty-four years he was Pope, made a pilgrimage to Palestine. TuaLfredo, a bishop of Northern Italy, was one of His Holiness's train, and whilst on this visit he obtained the precious relic from a certain man named Seleucus. On the return of the pilgrims to Italy the bishop brought it with him to Spezia, and confided it to the care of Beato Giovanni, Bishop of Lucca. With much reverence the latter placed it in the church of S. Frediano in his own city.