DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55207#0019
THE ZOE PANEL n
the emaciated flesh. The cruciform nimbus is outlined in deep flashing red
and the face of the cross is jewelled in what seem to be beryls and pearls.
On either side of the head of Christ in large letters of architectural
type are the monograms in black violet
IC xc
Sl(r|crou)s X(pio-To)$, Jesus Christ
Christ’s right hand is raised in the Orthodox gesture of benediction; un-
naturally twisted, this hand turning sharply upwards in its movement like a
flame, barely subsists as a hand at all in the symbolic rendering of the blessing.
The left hand is holding upright on the knee the Book of the Gospels.
Heavy parchment of the leaves is shown below and on the right. The splendid
cover is of gold and bears in its centre an equal-limbed cross of blue transparent
enamel. Each limb is ornamented with two rows of pearls. In the middle of
the cross there is a large round stone, like a clouded carnelian in claw-setting
such as we see in the book-covers and reliquaries taken from Constantinople
to Venice in the fateful Fourth Crusade. At the corners of the cover are four
ornaments in the shape of ivy-leaves, in enamel, each of two colours, one half
earth-green and the other an earth-red in two tones [io]. The Book is closed
with three gilded leather straps, ending in clasps.
Christ is clad in blue chiton and himation. The chiton is visible on the right
arm, the right half of the chest and, on the left leg, below the Book. Through
the large opening of the sleeve on the right arm, is seen a gold armlet with a
red foliated ornament and a cuff, like a bracelet of linked squares. On the right
shoulder and the right part of the chest, the chiton is adorned with a wide
gold clavus, the lower part of which reappears on the left knee and from there
runs down the leg. Shadows of light olive-green and dark olive-brown on
the clavus almost trace a design on the surface of the tissue.
Entirely covered by the himation are the middle of the body, the right thigh,
and the right leg. The himation covers a small part of the right shoulder and
from the other shoulder descends in zigzag lines down the left side of the chest,
covering the whole arm and hand up to the fingers, hanging down from the
forearm and resting upon the seat of the throne, from which it descends in a •
sculptural fold passing behind the chiton along the left leg.
Both vestments give the impression of being of soft wool, with shades passing
from light amethyst to black violet. The blue glass with which they are
wrought, however, because of its complete lack of air-holes, has not the
luminosity of the ninth- and tenth-century glass used to represent the dye
the emaciated flesh. The cruciform nimbus is outlined in deep flashing red
and the face of the cross is jewelled in what seem to be beryls and pearls.
On either side of the head of Christ in large letters of architectural
type are the monograms in black violet
IC xc
Sl(r|crou)s X(pio-To)$, Jesus Christ
Christ’s right hand is raised in the Orthodox gesture of benediction; un-
naturally twisted, this hand turning sharply upwards in its movement like a
flame, barely subsists as a hand at all in the symbolic rendering of the blessing.
The left hand is holding upright on the knee the Book of the Gospels.
Heavy parchment of the leaves is shown below and on the right. The splendid
cover is of gold and bears in its centre an equal-limbed cross of blue transparent
enamel. Each limb is ornamented with two rows of pearls. In the middle of
the cross there is a large round stone, like a clouded carnelian in claw-setting
such as we see in the book-covers and reliquaries taken from Constantinople
to Venice in the fateful Fourth Crusade. At the corners of the cover are four
ornaments in the shape of ivy-leaves, in enamel, each of two colours, one half
earth-green and the other an earth-red in two tones [io]. The Book is closed
with three gilded leather straps, ending in clasps.
Christ is clad in blue chiton and himation. The chiton is visible on the right
arm, the right half of the chest and, on the left leg, below the Book. Through
the large opening of the sleeve on the right arm, is seen a gold armlet with a
red foliated ornament and a cuff, like a bracelet of linked squares. On the right
shoulder and the right part of the chest, the chiton is adorned with a wide
gold clavus, the lower part of which reappears on the left knee and from there
runs down the leg. Shadows of light olive-green and dark olive-brown on
the clavus almost trace a design on the surface of the tissue.
Entirely covered by the himation are the middle of the body, the right thigh,
and the right leg. The himation covers a small part of the right shoulder and
from the other shoulder descends in zigzag lines down the left side of the chest,
covering the whole arm and hand up to the fingers, hanging down from the
forearm and resting upon the seat of the throne, from which it descends in a •
sculptural fold passing behind the chiton along the left leg.
Both vestments give the impression of being of soft wool, with shades passing
from light amethyst to black violet. The blue glass with which they are
wrought, however, because of its complete lack of air-holes, has not the
luminosity of the ninth- and tenth-century glass used to represent the dye