The history of Our Lord as exemplified in works of art - with that of His types; St. John the Baptist; and other persons of the Old and New Testament (1872) (14582766577)

Identifier: historyofourlord02jame (find matches)
Title: The history of Our Lord as exemplified in works of art : with that of His types ; St. John the Baptist ; and other persons of the Old and New Testament
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: Jameson, Mrs. (Anna), 1794-1860 Eastlake, Elizabeth, 1809-1893
Subjects: Jesus Christ Christian art and symbolism
Publisher: London : Longmans, Green, and Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University



Text Appearing Before Image:
uck at our Lord on the Cross, when, theblood falling on his hand, he lifted it to his eyes, and immediatelyreceived sight. We give an illustration of this incident from apsalter belonging to Mr. Holford, where one eye is opened, andthe other still closed (woodcut, No. 187, over leaf). Here also thecenturion is seen on the opposite side behind, holding up his handin confession of the divinity of the figure on the Cross. Thelegend has in later times received addition in the person of a soldierwho guides Longinuss spear, of which also we have seen examples.Of the centurion, who, to the feeling of the Christian, is by far themore interesting individual of the two, no trace is found, we believe,in legend. Art sometimes makes him kneeling in sudden self-abasement at the foot of the Cross. The figure with the sponge has been also left unnoticed, exceptthat tradition gives him the name of Stephaton,x but his history has 1 See Guide de la Peinture, 196, note.VOL. II. Y 162 HISTORY OF OUR LORD.
Text Appearing After Image:
187 Legend of LoDginus. (Belgian MS. Mr. Holford.) been in no way preserved or imagined. The spear itself is alwaj^strue to the ancient and accepted form of that weapon ; the spongeis sometimes exchanged for a cup fastened to the end of a staff, andgenerally, in early forms, Stephaton has the vessel of vinegar in hisother hand. Both these incidents are seen in our last illustration.The lance and sponge appear in every possible form of the Cruci-fixion, with all the array of symbolism, when the Church, under anabstract female form, is catching the blood from the side—alone— THE CRUCIFIXION WITH LANCE AND SPONGE. 163 with the two thieves, with the Virgin and St. John, and with thefull scene of the historical Crucifixion. As time advanced, andideas yielded to literal facts, all simultaneous action of thesetwo implements ceased. The sponge is generally seen—its officeover—among the uplifted weapons in the background, while thespear is doing its terrible work. As regards this latte