Phillipps, Evelyn March: The frescoes in the Sixtine chapel (London: John Murray, 1901)

CHRIST’S VICAR

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temple ”... On the other : “ And they
took up stones to cast at Him, but Jesus hid
Himself and went out of the temple.” But
they merely give the effect of the ordinary
life going on as an adjunct to the great
event taking place in the foreground. Here
Christ delivers the great symbol, and pro-
nounces the tremendous declaration: “What-
soever ye shall bind upon earth is bound
in Heaven, and whatsoever ye shall
loose upon earth is loosed in Heaven.” It
is in keeping with the visible giving of the
symbol that the painter, instead of the
historical background of the Sea of Galilee,
has placed his personages in front of the
temple, which typifies the Church of God
on earth. This fresco is a triumph for
Perugino. It is difficult to say whether he
is happiest in his ideally religious heads or
in his portraits. The principal figure perhaps
seldom altogether satisfies anybody, but in
the kneeling St. Peter, St. James beyond
him, and St. John immediately behind, he
leaves little to desire, either in form,
colour, or expression. The fervent atten-