Devon & Cornwall notes & queries . noindication to the uninstructed eye that it is not of the samedate. Still, far be it from me to wish it away, for the subjectof the carving is not only interesting, but, in England at allevents, very rare. It represents an episode in the life of King Herod, takenfrom the Legenda Auvea (Golden Legend) of Jacobus deVoragine, bishop of Genoa, a remarkable compilation whichhad a great vogue all through the Middle Ages. In the Golden Legend the history of Herod is given in thesection devoted to the Holy Innocents. It states that in hisold age he suffered from a t
Devon & Cornwall notes & queries . noindication to the uninstructed eye that it is not of the samedate. Still, far be it from me to wish it away, for the subjectof the carving is not only interesting, but, in England at allevents, very rare. It represents an episode in the life of King Herod, takenfrom the Legenda Auvea (Golden Legend) of Jacobus deVoragine, bishop of Genoa, a remarkable compilation whichhad a great vogue all through the Middle Ages. In the Golden Legend the history of Herod is given in thesection devoted to the Holy Innocents. It states that in hisold age he suffered from a terrible malady, and to alleviate ithis physicians advised him to take a bath of oil; this he didand was taken out half dead. This is the incident represented on the misericord. Herod,fully clothed, and wearing a crown of the conventional spikypattern, is seated in the bath, which though much restrictedin size, is unmistakable ; his face is contorted with agony, hisright fist is clenched, and he is tearing his hair with his left 32. 1 THE MISERICORDS OF EXETER CATHEDRAL. hand. He wears a close-fitting coat fastened with largesquare studs, and carries a dagger in his belt. In the left porch of the facade of Amiens Cathedral thesame episode appears, but in this case Herod is unclothed,and he is being either put into or lifted out of the bath by twoattendants. At Amiens, as elsewhere, it was the practice toplace underneath a large and important subject a smallcomposition which had some connection, actual or symbolical,with the group above. In this case the large group is theinterview of Herod with the Magi. No doubt the intentionwas to show that retribution follows on crime, and thatDivine anger exacts a penalty for arrogance and ill doing. Caxton translated and printed the Golden Legend, but heomitted the episode of the bath of oil, so the Exeter carvingmust have been taken either from the Latin version or theFrench translation,* or possibly from the Histovia Scholasticaof Comesto
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Keywords: ., bookauthorameryjoh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1920
