DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75314#0064
34
Fi^ile Ivory Cafts.
'58. 55. H. 7f in., W. 12 in.
The cafket, of which this and the four following numbers form
portions, is one of the moft important relics of early Chriftian art in
exiftence. In its varied fcenes and in their admirable defign and moft
careful execution, they recall to mind the fineft of the earlier Chriftian
farcophagi. This is the top of the cafket, and is compofed of two long
plaques with fcenes of the early portion of the Paffion of Jefus Chrift.
In the lower: 1. The Saviour, young, beardlefs, and without a nimbus,
ftanding amongft trees in the garden of the Mount of Olives. 2. Chrift
again confronting five male figures clad in tunics and bareheaded,
without beards, who approach Him, each holding a torch and two of
them holding large fhields (one oval and the other circular), with
central boffes and ornamental carving. 3. St. Peter, aged and bearded,
and with fhort cut hair, ftanding before a fquare column, on the top of
which ftands a cock, a female fervant is arguing with Peter. In the
upper plaque : 4. Chrift, held by two attendants, is brought before
Pontius Pilate and Herod feated on curule chairs. 5. Pilate feated
on a wide couch and cuihion on a raifed dais, with four attendants
engaged in wafhing his hands, upon which a youthful attendant pours
water out of a flagon, holding a bafin below. 6. Chrift led by two
attendants towards Pilate. All thefe attendants, as well as Pilate him-
felf, are clad in long cloaks, fastened on the right ihoulder with a circular
fibula. Thefe figures are about three inches in height. The two
plaques are feparated by a narrow band, along which feftoons of drapery
are arranged with birds fitting on them. (90)
'58. 67. H. 8| in., W. 8I in.
This portion forms one of the tides of the cafket, and is compofed of
a central plaque furrounded by narrow borders containing fmall groups
and furmounted by a piece containing, in funk circular panels, three bufts,
of a youth, a middle-aged and an old man, excellently defigned. In the
central part: 1. The Saviour is twice reprefented, as in the preceding
pieces, curing the blind man, who approaches Him helpleffly with down-
ftretched arms, the Saviour touching his eyes. 2. The Raifing of Lazarus,
who is reprefented like a child fwaddled, but with a cloak hanging behind
him, ftanding at the door of a fmall temple, the fides of the entrance
with twifted columns, and the fide of the temple with a cancellus. The
temple is raifed and approached by a flight of fix iteps, as in many of
the farcophagi. The Saviour touches the head of Lazarus with a long
rod. The upper border reprefents : 3. Mofes Landing on a rock taking
off his ihoe, the open hand of God appearing above. 4. The three
Fi^ile Ivory Cafts.
'58. 55. H. 7f in., W. 12 in.
The cafket, of which this and the four following numbers form
portions, is one of the moft important relics of early Chriftian art in
exiftence. In its varied fcenes and in their admirable defign and moft
careful execution, they recall to mind the fineft of the earlier Chriftian
farcophagi. This is the top of the cafket, and is compofed of two long
plaques with fcenes of the early portion of the Paffion of Jefus Chrift.
In the lower: 1. The Saviour, young, beardlefs, and without a nimbus,
ftanding amongft trees in the garden of the Mount of Olives. 2. Chrift
again confronting five male figures clad in tunics and bareheaded,
without beards, who approach Him, each holding a torch and two of
them holding large fhields (one oval and the other circular), with
central boffes and ornamental carving. 3. St. Peter, aged and bearded,
and with fhort cut hair, ftanding before a fquare column, on the top of
which ftands a cock, a female fervant is arguing with Peter. In the
upper plaque : 4. Chrift, held by two attendants, is brought before
Pontius Pilate and Herod feated on curule chairs. 5. Pilate feated
on a wide couch and cuihion on a raifed dais, with four attendants
engaged in wafhing his hands, upon which a youthful attendant pours
water out of a flagon, holding a bafin below. 6. Chrift led by two
attendants towards Pilate. All thefe attendants, as well as Pilate him-
felf, are clad in long cloaks, fastened on the right ihoulder with a circular
fibula. Thefe figures are about three inches in height. The two
plaques are feparated by a narrow band, along which feftoons of drapery
are arranged with birds fitting on them. (90)
'58. 67. H. 8| in., W. 8I in.
This portion forms one of the tides of the cafket, and is compofed of
a central plaque furrounded by narrow borders containing fmall groups
and furmounted by a piece containing, in funk circular panels, three bufts,
of a youth, a middle-aged and an old man, excellently defigned. In the
central part: 1. The Saviour is twice reprefented, as in the preceding
pieces, curing the blind man, who approaches Him helpleffly with down-
ftretched arms, the Saviour touching his eyes. 2. The Raifing of Lazarus,
who is reprefented like a child fwaddled, but with a cloak hanging behind
him, ftanding at the door of a fmall temple, the fides of the entrance
with twifted columns, and the fide of the temple with a cancellus. The
temple is raifed and approached by a flight of fix iteps, as in many of
the farcophagi. The Saviour touches the head of Lazarus with a long
rod. The upper border reprefents : 3. Mofes Landing on a rock taking
off his ihoe, the open hand of God appearing above. 4. The three