Who can estimate the effect of such pictorial representations on the minds of our ancestors? or the good which might be the result, if our churches were again frescoed with similar subjects, wrought with the genius and Catholic feeling of an Overbeck or Cornelius?]
[End footnote]
And because John Baptist pointed to Him, saying, 'Behold the Lamb of God,' [Footnote 257] therefore some represented Christ under the form of a lamb.
[Footnote 257: S. John i, 29.]
But because the light passeth away, and because Christ is very man, therefore, saith Adrian, Pope, He must be represented in the form of a man. A holy lamb must not be depicted on the cross, as a principal object: but there is no let when Christ hath been represented as a man, to paint a lamb in a lower or less prominent part of the picture: since He is the true Lamb which 'taketh away the sins of the world.' In these and divers other manners is the image of the Saviour painted, on account of diversity of significations.
7. Represented in the cradle, the artist commemorateth His nativity: on the bosom of His Mother, His childhood: the painting or carving His cross signifieth His Passion (and sometimes the sun and moon are represented on the cross itself, as suffering an eclipse): when depicted on a flight of steps, His ascension is signified: when on a state or lofty throne, we be taught His present power: as if He said, 'All things are given to Me in heaven and in earth:' [Footnote 258] according to that saying, 'I saw the Lord sitting upon His throne:' [Footnote 259] that is, reigning over the angels: as the text, 'Which sitteth upon the cherubim.' [Footnote 260] Sometimes He is represented as He was seen of Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, on the mountain: when 'under His feet was as it were a paved work of sapphire stones, and as the body of heaven in His clearness:' [Footnote 261] and as 'they shall see,' as saith S. Luke, 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. [Footnote 262] Wherefore sometimes He is represented surrounded by the seven angels that serve Him, and stand by His throne, each being portrayed with six wings, according to the vision of Isaiah, 'And by it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings: with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.' [Footnote 263]
[Footnote 258: S. Matt, xxviii, 18.]
[Footnote 259: Isaiah vi, 1.]
[Footnote 260: Psalm lxxx, 1.]
[Footnote 261: Exodus xxiv, 10.]
[Footnote 262: S. Matthew xxiv, 30.]
[Footnote 263: Isaiah vi, 2.]
8. The angels are also represented as in the flower of youthful age: for they never grow old. [Footnote 264] Sometimes S. Michael is represented trampling the dragon, according to that of John, 'There was war in heaven: Michael fought with the dragon.' Which was to represent the dissensions of the angels: the confirmation of them that were good, and the ruin of them that were bad: or the persecution of the faithful in the Church Militant. Sometimes the twenty-four elders are painted around the Saviour, according to the vision of the said John, with 'white garments, and they have on their heads crowns of gold.' [Footnote 265]By which are signified the doctors of the Old and New Testament; which are twelve, on account of faith in the Holy Trinity preached through the four quarters of the world: or twenty-four, on account of good works, and the keeping of the gospels. [Footnote 266] If the seven lamps be added, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are represented: if the sea of glass, baptism. [Footnote 267]
[Footnote 264: Many of our readers will call to mind the peculiar expression always given to the countenances of angels in Catholic illuminations or paintings, a conventional propriety uniformly neglected by modern artists. The same character was beautifully given in the relieved figures of angels upon the shrine of S. Henry lately exhibiting in London.]
[Footnote 265: Apocalypse xii, 7.]
[Footnote 266: Apocalypse iv, 4.]
[Footnote 267: This very obscure passage is an instance of the symbolism in the combination of numbers. It seems to mean that faith in the Holy Trinity preached through the four quarters of the world, may be represented by three multiplied into four or twelve: and again, this symbolical fact multiplied by general good works and keeping of the Gospels, may be set forth in twenty-four. It is to be remarked that the princeps edition alone gives Evangeliorum: the later have Evangelistarum, which with observantia is scarcely intelligible. Compare S. August, Expos. in Psalm lxxxvi. Non solum ergo illi duodecim (sc. Apostoli) et Apostolus Paulus, sed quotquot judicaturi sunt, propter significationem universitatis ad sedes duodenas pertinent . . . partes enim mundi quatuor sunt, Oriens, Occidens, Aquilo, et Meridies. Istae quatuor partes assidue inveniuntur in Scripturis. Ab istis quatuor ventus, sicut dixit Dominus in Evangelio vocatur Ecclesia. Quomodo vocatur? Undique in Trinitate vocatur. Quatuor ergo ter ducta duodecim inveniuntur. See also S. Isidore, Alleg. in S. S. folio 353, C. D.]