The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-07-21

Z benedictines of Vallambrosa. An
examination proves that while Ii
could not possibly have been done al
the time specified, is is yet of grea!
antiquity. 1t is painted on a panel
of cyprus wood; the features are
strongly marked, the face long, the
eyes large and brilliant, the eyelids
dropping and the brOWs finely arch
ed. In the monastery of st. Prax-
ides is a picture which dates back
before the days Of Constantine, but il
is enshrined in q silver case, and the
| jealOns keepers viii not permit &
close examination. What is known
as the Genoess portrait is unques-
tionably of remote origin, and repre-
sents Christ with a trifHrcated beard
and full, round Bayzantineface. At
| the prOmulgation of the dogma OF
| the Immaculate Conception, Decem-
Der 8, 1854, there were exhibited in
| the chapel of the blessed sacrament
at st. Peters a. a..number OF. relics of
the passion Of Christ; and among
them the famous veil Of st. Varoni-
ca, on which are said to be impressed
the Iineaments Of the Savior. None
but bishops were allowed TO enter
the chapel, and to the crowd gazing
through the grating nothing could
be clearly distinguished By special
favor however, III. Barber de MOnt-
ault, canon of the Basilica of Anagni,
was permitted to approach the shrine
and carefully scrutinize the mysteri-
Gus picture. We give his own des-
cription:
''The holy face is enclosed in a
frame of silver partially gilt, and
+! square, of a severe character, and
little adorned. The simplicity of
the bordering gives prominence to
the interior of the picture, which is
protected by a thin plate of crystal.
Unfortunately, by one Of those GUS
toms so common IN Italy, sheet of
metal covers the field, and only
leaves apparent the figure indicating
its outline. By this outline one is
led to conjecture flowing hair reach
ing to the shoulders, and a short
beard, bifurcated and small. The
other features are so vaguely indica-
ted or so completely effaced that it
/ requires the liveliest imagination in
the world to perceive traces of eyes
or nose. In short, one does not see
the material of the substance because
of the useless Intervention of metal
plate, and the place of impression
exhibits only blackish surface, not
| giving any evidence of human fea-
lures.
But the face of Christ Is not always
delineated on wood or canvas, but is
to be found in various shapes upon
the earliest Christian sarcophagi /; al
so done in enamel and mosaic, and
frescoed on the walls and ceiling OF
| the Roman catacOmbs. These sarco-
phagi are of white marble, generally
| highly ornamented with elaborate
bas reliefs, and evidence, by the care
| bestowed upon their preparation, the
respect in which the dead were held
even in that era ofcOrruptiOn, tyTan-
ny and violence. Except in the ma
ture of the symbols carved thereon,
| there is no pan ticular difference be-
tween the Christian and pagan sarco-
phagi. That of Junius Bassus, who
| died in the year 259, has the face of
| the Saviour four times repeated. 1t
| is Youthful almost to childishness,
with flaming hair and beardless chin
| the features of the ordinary classic
| types. Embedded in the mortar Of
the tomb of Eutychia in the cata-
combs, whom the inscrip lion de-
clares to be ''the happiest of fWomen," 4"
was found a beautiful glass goblet.
On this goblet is portrayed in enamel
q representation of the resurrection
| of Lazarus. Christ is there shown
young and beautiful with curled hair,
but beardless; while in another COB
| let from the same tomb he Is seen
bearing the fruit Of the tree OF life,
bearded with long and flowing
hair parted on the crown, and long,
straight nose. But the ceiling of the
| fourth chamber in the catacOmb OF
| st. Calixtus is frescoed a large media
| lion, surrounded by a curious Orna-
mentatiOn of doves and arabesques
In the centre of this medallion is Q
bust of Christ. The figure is partial.
ly nude, some draping being flung
over the left shoulder. The face il
oval, the brow smooth and lofty, the
eyebrows arched, the nose straight
and the whole countenance beaminl
an expression of mingled gravity
and mildness. The parted hair drops
in curls upon the shoulders; the
beard is short, scanty and bifurcated
and the general appearance indicates
a person between the ages of thirty
and forty. The catacOmb of Nercui
and Achilles has a full length figure
of Christ not differing materially
from the above, and in the catacoml
of st. Agnes is a representation o
: Him of 'fthe Resurrection and TIT
, Life" In the latter the brow is high
the face oval but not long, the love-
J lip somewhat coarse, a light nous
! tache, a small pointed beard and eye
; obliterated. On the tomb of ST
Cecilia is a life-size bust of Christ
showing a peaF-shaped face, small
: moustaohe and no beard. In tn
: cemetery of Pr8textai there is on
: of the latest discovered frescoes O
4 our Lord, which represents hin
8 teaching as a philosopher the face
of the usual style but has no divides
e beard. The arch offs. Paolo-fuori-le
Muri at Rome, has a representation
& in Mosaic of the four and tWent
elders offering their crowns. In th
5 dome the Saviour appears in glor
q with founders of the church in adoI
Il alton on either side. His right han
! is raised in benedictiOn, while th
= left holds the sceptre. The figure
:. clothed to the neck; the face Is cali
+ and grave, the eyes large, luminOJ
o and tender.
ii We might enumerate many othe
:. delineatiOns of the divine counti
n nance, but enough have been mention
lie cd to show a marked.resemblance
h the main characteristics manifesto
IF in all, thereby proving that the lik
u ness recognized by Christendom res
I; Oh we'll established tradition. al
" not on vague imagination.
ID
~ The daily "coUrse Of study
~ Tassar college embraces two barre
pl of fior4y five hoPy.ala Of E1Ofafoeg ol