. The history of Our Lord as exemplified in works of art : with that of His types ; St. John the Baptist ; and other persons of the Old and New Testament. w, vehement action, and pendent im-possibilities are conspicuous, it is a relief to turn to one who here, asever, stands alone in his mild glory. Fra Angelicos Descent, paintedfor the SS. Trinita at Florence (to retrace somewhat our steps chrono-logically), now in the Accademia there, is the perfect realisation ofthe most pious idea. No more Christian conception of the subject,and no more probable setting forth of the scene, can perhaps beat
. The history of Our Lord as exemplified in works of art : with that of His types ; St. John the Baptist ; and other persons of the Old and New Testament. w, vehement action, and pendent im-possibilities are conspicuous, it is a relief to turn to one who here, asever, stands alone in his mild glory. Fra Angelicos Descent, paintedfor the SS. Trinita at Florence (to retrace somewhat our steps chrono-logically), now in the Accademia there, is the perfect realisation ofthe most pious idea. No more Christian conception of the subject,and no more probable setting forth of the scene, can perhaps beattained. All is holy sorrow, calm and still; the figures move gentlyand speak in whispers. No one is too excited to help, or not tohinder. Joseph and Mcodemus, known by their glories, are highestin the scale of reverential beings who people the ladder, and make italmost look as if it lost itself, like Jacobs, in heaven. They eachhold an arm close to the shoulder. Another disciple sustains the that Marc Antonio should not have known this improved edition of the composition. Yeteven so it must have been still defective. THE DESCENT PROM THE CROSS. 223. 204 Descent from Cross. (Fra Angelico. Accademia, Florence.) body as lie sits on the ladder, a fourth receives it under the knees ;and St. John, a figure of the highest beauty of expression, lifts his 224 HISTORY OF OUR LORD. hands and offers his shoulder to the precious burden, wherein anothermoment it will safely and tenderly repose. The figure itself isineffably graceful with pathetic helplessness, but c Corona Gloria?,victory over the old enemy, surrounds a head of divine peace. Heis restored to His own, and rests among them with a security as ifHe knew the loving hands so quietly and mournfully busied aboutHim. And His peace is with them already: i Peace I leave withyou, my peace I give unto you. In this picture it is as if the piousartist had sought first the kingdom of God, and all things, even inArt, had been added unto him.
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