At the side of Pilate, and behind Christ, are ranged the members of the Jewish Sanhedrim, standing or sitting, in various postures, with white scrolls in their hands, which they hold like screens, bearing their names and the expression of their sentiments respecting the divine Victim. Their dress is black or white, but varied in form. Most of them wear a mosette, or ermine cape, and the collar of some order of knighthood, as of S. Michael and the S. Esprit. They are all young, have mustaches, and look as if they belonged to the time of Louis Treize. On their heads are turbans, or toques.
Through the open window, at the end of the pretorium, may be seen the mob, armed with spears, and expressing its sentiments by means of a scroll at the side of the window: “If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar’s friend. Crucify him! crucify him! His blood be on us and on our children.”
The chief interest of the picture centres in these inscriptions, which are in queer old French of marvellous orthography. At the bottom of the painting, to the left, is the following:
“Sentence, or decree, of the sanguinary Jews against Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Over Pilate we read:
“Pontius Pilate Judex.”
The sentiments of the high-priests and elders, whose names we give in the original, are thus expressed:
“1. Simon Lepros. For what cause or reason is he held for mutiny or sedition?
“2. Raban. Wherefore are laws made, I pray, unless to be kept and executed?
“3. Achias. No one should be condemned to death whose cause is not known and weighed.