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This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. http://books.google.com Christiansymbolism Mrs.HenryJenner THG UN1YGRSITY Of CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITTLE BOOKS ON ART GENERAL EDITOR: CYRIL DAVENPORT CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM LITTLE BOOKS ON ART ENAMELS. By Mrs. Nelson Dawson. With 33 illustrations. MINIATURES. Ancient and Modern. By Cyril Davenport. With 46 illus trations. JEWELLERY. By Cyril Davenport. With 4i illustrations, BOOKPLATES. By Edward Almack, F. S. A. With 42 illustrations. THE ARTS OF JAPAN. By Edward Dillon. With 40 illustrations. ILLUMINATED MSS. By John W. Bradley. With 40 illustrations. CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM. By Mrs. Henry Jenner. With 40 illustrations. OUR LADY IN ART. By Mrs. Henry Jenner. With 40 illustrations. Frontispieces in color. Each with a Bibliography and Index. Small square 16mo, $1.00 net. A. C. McCluro & Co.. Publishers ' -iTRA lIU'.s t. I' .> m. • -V J CHICAGO A. C. MoCJ,URU & CO. 1910 LITTLE BOOKS ON ART CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM BY MRS. HENRY JENNER < i WITH 41 ILLUSTRATIONS CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1910 First Published in 1910 Reprinted August 1, 1910 CONTENTS PAGE Introduction xiii CHAPTER I Sacraments and Sacramentals i CHAPTER II The Trinity 21 CHAPTER III The Cross and Passion 46 CHAPTER IV The World of Spirits 64 CHAPTER V The Saints 89 CHAPTER VI The Church 115 CHAPTER VII Ecclesiastical Costume 132 396146 vi CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM CHAPTER VIII PAGE Lesser Symbolisms 145 CHAPTER IX Old Testament Types 168 Bibliography 177 Index . 181 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS THE LAST JUDGMENT . Frontispiece (From a painting by Hans Memling in S. Mary's Church, Danzig.) From a photograph by E. T. Kuhn. FACING pAGE DISPUTA DEL SACRAMENTO . ... 5 (From the fresco by Raphael Sanzio in the Vatican Stanze.) From a photograph by F. Hanfstaengl, THE ADORATION OF THE LAMB, MYSTICALLY REPRE SENTING THE EUCHARIST . 6 (From the painting by the brothers Van Eyck in St. Bavon, Ghent.) From a photograph by W. A. Mansell & Co. THE HOLY TRINITY . ... 23 (From the painting by Albert Di'irer in the Imperial Gallery, Vienna.) From a photograph by J. Lowy. THE HOLY TRINITY, EMBLEMATICALLY REPRESENTED, WITH THE EMBLEMS OF THE EVANGELISTS . 25 (From a Book of Hours, printed by Simon Vostre, Paris, 1524.) THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST, WITH THE DOVE DESCEND ING AND THE HAND OF THE FATHER ABOVE. BELOW IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE RIVER JORDAN . ... 27 (From a North Italian 6th-century ivory in the British Museum.) FIFTH-CENTURY SARCOPHAGUS, WITH THE LAMB, THE CROSS, AND DOVES . 32 (From the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna.) From a photograph by Alinari. EARLY CHRISTIAN SEALS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM . 34 z. Anchor and Fish. 2. Anchor, Fishes, Doves, and Palms. 3. Fish, Palm; Dove with Olive Branch. 4. Fish, Palm, and Crook. 5. Fish, Dove with Olive Branch, Monogram. vii viii CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM FACING PAGE CHRIST TRAMPLING ON THE LION AND DRAGON. (ps. xci. 13) . ... 37 (From an English nth-century MS. (Cott. Tib. C. vi.) in the British Museum.) KING DAVID INSPIRED BY THE HOLY GHOST AS A DOVE. ABOVE IS THE HAND OF GOD, HOLDING A HORN FROM WHICH ISSUE RAYS . 40 (From an English 11th-century MS. (Cott. Tib. C. vi.) in the British Museum.) THE CRUCIFIXION, SYMBOLICALLY TREATED . 55 (From the picture by Fra Angelico at St. Mark's, Florence ) From a photograph by Brogi. TYPICAL RUSSIAN CRUCIFIX, WITH EMBLEMS OF THE FATHER AND HOLY GHOST, ANGELS, SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST, ETC. - 57 (From an 18th-century specimen in gilt bronze in the possession of the author.) THE EMBLEMS OF THE PASSION . 59 (From the title-page of Sir Thomas More's translation of the Life of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, printed by Wynkyn de Worde.) EUCHARISTIC ECCE HOMO . 6l (From a painting by Pietro Perugino in the Pinacoteca Vannucci, Perugia.) From a photograph by Alinari. CHERUBIM, WITH MYSTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE SIX WINGS AND THEIR FEATHERS TO " SEX ACTUS MORUM " . ... 66 (From an English 14th-century Psalter (Ar. 83) in the British Museum.) ST. MICHAEL . ... 72 (From a leaf of an ivory diptych of the time of Theodosius I. (375-395) in the British Museum.) ENTRY OF THE BLESSED INTO PARADISE . 74 (From a painting by Fra Angelico in the Royal Gallery, Florence.) From a photograph by Alinari. THE FALL OF THE REBEL ANGELS . 76 (From the Chantilly Book of Hours, 15th century.) From a photograph by A. Girandon. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix FACING PAGE HELL . ... 78 (From the Chantilly Book of Hours, 15th century.) From a photograph by A. Girandon. THE DEATHS OF DIVES AND LAZARUS. DEVILS BEAR AWAY THE SOUL OF DIVES AND ANGELS THAT OF LAZARUS. ABOVE IS LAZARUS IN ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, BELOW IS DIVES IN HELL . 82 (From an English 14th-century Psalter (Ar. 83) in the British Museum.) ANGEL AND DEVIL, THE LATTER WITH SCROLL OF EVIL DEEDS, FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF A DEAD MAN . ... 83 (From a Flemish 16th-century Book of Hours (King's 9) in the British Museum. The book belonged to Henry VIII.) THE HARROWING OF HELL . 84 (From a picture by Simone Martini in the Cappella degli Spag- noji, S. Maria Novella, Florence.) From a photograph by Alinari. THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH . 86 (From a fresco by Orcagna in the Campo Santo at Pisa.) From a photograph by Alinari. THE AUREOLE AND NIMBUS . 91 (Shown in a painting of the Death and Assumption of Our Lady by Andrea Rizzo in the Pinacoteca, Turin.) From a photo graph by Alinari. OUR LADY AS THE GREAT INTERCESSOR . 98 (From a mosaic in the Archiepiscopal Palace, Ravenna.) From a photograph by Alinari. OUR LADY OF SUCCOUR . ... IOO (From a painting by Sinibaldo Ibi in the Church of St. Francis, Montone.) From a photograph by Alinari. ILLUSTRATION OF REV. V., VI., AND X. 102 (From a gth-century Bible (Add. MS. 10546), of Alcuin's recen sion, in the British Museum. Upper half : Lamb and Lion as emblems of Christ (Rev. v. 5 ; 6. vi.) with the four Evangelists. Lower half : The Consummation of the Mystery of God (Rev. x. 7) at the trumpet of the Seventh Angel, in the unveil ing of the Divine Face. The emblem of St. Matthew appears also as the Seventh Angel.) a 2 x CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM FACING PAGE CHRIST ENTHRONED BETWEEN SS. PETER AND PAUL AND OTHER SAINTS . ... IO4 (Fifth-century sarcophagus in S- Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.) From a photograph by Alinari. ST. JOHN BAPTIST, WITH SS. FRANCIS, LAWRENCE, COSMAS, DAMIAN, ANTONY THE HERMIT, AND PETER THE MARTYR . ... I08 (From a painting by Filippo Lippi in the National Gallery.) VIRGIN AND CHILD, WITH THE FOUR WESTERN DOCTORS, SS. AMBROSE, AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO, GREGORY THE GREAT, AND JEROME . .110 (From a painting by II Moretto da Brescia in the Staedel Insti tute at Frankfort.) From a photograph by Bruckmann. THE DOOM, WITH THE WEIGHING OF SOULS AND THE LADDER OF SOULS . 120 (From a wall painting in Chaldon Church, Surrey.) By permis sion of the Kev. G. E. Belcher. THE CHURCH, SUPPORTED BY SS. PETER AND PAUL. ABOVE, IN A CIRCLE BETWEEN THE EMBLEMS OF THE EVANGELISTS, A FIGURE OF CHRIST . 124 (From the 5th-century carved wooden door of S. Sabina, Rome.) F'rom a photograph by Alinari. CRUCIFIXION, WITH EMBLEMATIC FIGURES OF THE CHRISTIAN AND JEWISH CHURCHES, THE FORMER MOUNTED ON " ANIMAL ECCLESIAE," COMPOSED OF THE FOUR EVANGELISTIC SYMBOLS, THE LATTER ON AN ASS . ... 126 (From the " Hortus Deliciarum " of Herrade of Lansperg, a 12th- century MS. formerly in the Strasburg Library, destroyed in 1870.) VESTED BISHOP (ST. URSICINUS) 134 (From a 6th-century mosaic in S. Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.) From a photograph by Alinari. THE PHCENIX RISING FROM THE FLAMES 150 (From a 13th-century bestiary in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.) THE TREE OF JESSE . ... 155 (From an English 13th-century Psalter (Add. MS. 21o26) in the British Museum.) LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGK PEACOCKS, WITH MONOGRAM AND VINE . .156 (From a 6th -century bas-relief in S. Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna.) From a photograph by Alinari. THE MYSTICAL MARRIAGE OF ST. CATHERINE OK ALEX ANDRIA, WITH THE FIGURE OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA INTRODUCED . ... I58 (From the painting by Ambrogio Borgognone in the National Gallery.) From a photograph by F. Hanfstaengl. CHRIST ENTHRONED AMONG THE APOSTLES ; IN THE BACKGROUND JERUSALEM, CALVARY, THE CROSS, AND THE EMBLEMS OF THE EVANGELISTS . 164 (Apsidal mosaic of the late 4th century in S. Pudentiana, Rome.) From a photograph by Moscioni. PERSONIFICATIONS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY, SURROUNDED BY THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST, THE THREE DAUGHTERS AND SEVEN SONS OF JOB, REPRESENTED AT TABLE ABOVE, BEING TAKEN AS TYPES . 171 (From a Bible of Flemish work, dated 1170 (Add. MS. 17738) in the British Museum.) THE CHURCH MILITANT AND TRIUMPHANT . 1 74 (From a fresco by Simone Martini in S. Maria Novella, Florence.) INTRODUCTION HRISTIANITY, like all other religions that ever have been, is largely made up of sym bolism. It is not possible to express spiritual things adequately in words, and therefore even the words used for religious purposes must be largely metaphorical and symbolical, and a cer tain element of the esoteric and mystical, which so often accompanies the infancy of a religion, was a necessary characteristic of early Christianity. The origin of this symbolism is not to be defined. No doubt in a great measure the conventions of existing religions were taken over, sometimes in their conventional meanings, sometimes invested with slightly varied or wholly new significances. This was as necessary as the taking over of the spoken languages of the time, and those who have delighted in bringing charges of Paganism against the Catholic Church, on the ground of the use of what was once Pagan symbolism, might make equally weighty objections to the use of the Latin and Greek languages.1 At first, no doubt, 1 Every language is a dictionary of faded metaphors.

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