British School at Rome: Papers of the British School at Rome (1.1902)

ii6

The British School at Rome.

Though he sometimes appears with the Cross, it is clear that the roll which other
examples show in his hand is the older motive. The prostrate figure of Hades under his
feet seems to be a regular adjunct of the design.
It is this simpler and earlier type which appears in the picture of S. Maria Antiqua
described above (p 37). Fig. 9 gives an idea of its outlines. If our dates with regard
to the church are correct it cannot be later than the ninth century, but there is no reason
to separate it from the other paintings of the eighth century in that part of the building.
Indeed, so far as its ruined state allows of any definite opinion, its style would suggest
that it belongs rather to the earlier than to the later series of decorations. Probably then
it is one of the earliest versions of the subject which we possess. For analogies with its


special characteristics we may compare the following examples. (1) Now that Prof.
Venturi has restored the sculptured columns of the ciborium in St. Mark's at Venice to
their proper place as works of early Christian art, not later than the sixth century, we
find on one of them the oldest version of the scene which has come down to us.1 The
elements are even simpler, for the only figures are those of Christ and Adam, whom he
takes by the hand. Under the feet of Christ appear two heads, perhaps the Satan and
Hades of the Gospel of Nicodemus. The left hand of Christ appears to be unoccupied ;
perhaps it originally held a roll. The (later) inscription describes the scene as expoliatio
i(?i)feri. In the next scene the bodily resurrection of the saints appears with the in-

1 Venturi, Storia dell' Arte Italiana, i. 444 sqq. Fig. 266 (p. 279). Cf. Lowrie, Christian Art,
&c., 269 note. The sculptures are also reproduced in Garrucci, vi. T. 498.