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DOI Artikel:Dobrzeniecki, Tadeusz; Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie [Mitarb.]: St. Anne from Faras in the National Museum in Warsaw
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18903#0063
A survey of the long and ramified tradition of representation leads to the conclusion that
the image of St. Anne of Faras belongs to an early stage of the development of a formuła deriving
from Byzantine patterns known sińce the 6th century.
St. Anne's gesture has a verbal counterpart in the expression ,,put one's hand on one's mouth",
that occurs eight times in the Old Testament: six times in the Hebrew text of the Book of the
Judges XVIII, 19; Job XXI, 5; XXIX, 9; XL, 4; Micah VII, 16; Proverbs XXX, 32 and twice
in the Greek text of the Ecclesiast (Syrach) V, 12; Wisdom VIII, 1220.
It is important to our study that we realise the use of the expression, and become aware that
the Hebrew word „hand" has been substituted for by the word „finger" in the Greek and two
Latin texts, the Vulgate and Vetus Latina. In the Biblical text, many words eorrespond to
■silence but not a single expression describes the relevant gesture.
"20. For the juxtaposition of these texts with the commentary to thera I used the article of B. Couroyer, „*Mettre sa main
but la bouche' en Egypte et dans la Bibie", Revue Biblique, LXVII, 1960, p. 197—209. From the citcd texts it follows that
the Hebraic word „the hand" or „the palm" in the one only verse of the Book of Job was replaced in all translations —
the Greek as well as the Latin ones — by „thefinger"; in Hebraic text many words refer to silence, but none of them depicts
a definite gesture.
4. Portrait of a man, Fayum, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum (after J. E. Berger, R. Creux,.
L'0eil. L'Eternite..., op. cit.)
.5. The Christ, icon from St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai (after K. Weitzmann, The Monastery
of Saint Catherine..., op. cit.)
55
the image of St. Anne of Faras belongs to an early stage of the development of a formuła deriving
from Byzantine patterns known sińce the 6th century.
St. Anne's gesture has a verbal counterpart in the expression ,,put one's hand on one's mouth",
that occurs eight times in the Old Testament: six times in the Hebrew text of the Book of the
Judges XVIII, 19; Job XXI, 5; XXIX, 9; XL, 4; Micah VII, 16; Proverbs XXX, 32 and twice
in the Greek text of the Ecclesiast (Syrach) V, 12; Wisdom VIII, 1220.
It is important to our study that we realise the use of the expression, and become aware that
the Hebrew word „hand" has been substituted for by the word „finger" in the Greek and two
Latin texts, the Vulgate and Vetus Latina. In the Biblical text, many words eorrespond to
■silence but not a single expression describes the relevant gesture.
"20. For the juxtaposition of these texts with the commentary to thera I used the article of B. Couroyer, „*Mettre sa main
but la bouche' en Egypte et dans la Bibie", Revue Biblique, LXVII, 1960, p. 197—209. From the citcd texts it follows that
the Hebraic word „the hand" or „the palm" in the one only verse of the Book of Job was replaced in all translations —
the Greek as well as the Latin ones — by „thefinger"; in Hebraic text many words refer to silence, but none of them depicts
a definite gesture.
4. Portrait of a man, Fayum, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum (after J. E. Berger, R. Creux,.
L'0eil. L'Eternite..., op. cit.)
.5. The Christ, icon from St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai (after K. Weitzmann, The Monastery
of Saint Catherine..., op. cit.)
55