Twining, Louisa: Symbols and emblems of early and mediaeval Christian art (London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1852)

26

PLATE XII.
THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY REPRESENTED AS THE LION.
Fig. 1. This subject represents the scene of the Apocalypse, in which the Lion is described
as having prevailed to open the Book with the Seven Seals. The Lion and the Lamb
are here placed at either side of the Altar, both being symbols of Christ. The nimbus,
in both cases, is without the mark of its belonging to a divine Person ; but there can be
no doubt of the meaning of the symbols. This singular subject is taken from the large
Bible called Charlemagne’s, where it is placed at the beginning of the Apocalypse;
8th century (Brit. Mus.).
2. In this instance the crossed nimbus leaves no doubt as to the meaning of the symbol, even
if the manner of its representation did not proclaim it to be the “ Lion of the tribe of
Judah.” From a MS. of the Apocalypse, of the end of the 12th century, in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford.
3. The same subject from the Apocalypse, but treated in a different manner. From a MS.
of the 13th century, containing scenes from the Old and New Testament (Brit. Mus.).