The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-08-22
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A representative OF the Press was
yesterday permittedto examine one of
the most wonderful works OF antiquity
ever brought to the notice Of the pres
ent generation, belonging to Cesare
Facchini, an Italian gentlemen who re-
Gently arrived in this city from Rome.
1t IS evidently relic Of religious art,
aud Is said TO be over 900 years old.
The work is entirely Of wood, cut from
the groves OF Lebanon, and is about
four feet square and as many feet in
height. IL represents the early history
Of the world, from the time OF creation
mp to the crucifixion OF the Son of
God, and il made up OF figures aud
emblems, illustrating familiar biblical
characters. First, Immediately ON the
front OF the work is miniature repre-
sentation OF chaos, and above il the
Garden OF Eden, containing diversi-
fled landscape thronging..with beasts,
birds, reptiles and trees. The figures
are all OF carved wood. On the left
hand side is an image of Adam, and on
the right one Of Eve, who holds in her
right hand the fatal apple. Near by,
on an elevation, is q picture of man
between two wild beasts-an elephant
and lion--typifying the two stages OF
civilization. Next in order comes
sacred figure of Joshua bestriding a.
charger. The warrior holds in one
hand the sword and in the other a
shield, having on its front a represen-
tation Of the sun. To the right of this
striking figure may be seen q carving
nf hA sr.l.
are outstretched. Near him is the
golden calf and a band Of soldiers,
clad IN full costume. aud Just above
these, on what appears 10 be a noun
tan, the figure OF Moses, the law-giv-
er, who has with him the tablet on
which are inscribed the ten command
ments. In his right hand the leader
OF the Israelites holds the rod with
which he smote the rock and cansel
water to flow forth. Above this is a
representation of the Lord and the
burning bush. Further on toward the
rear OF the work is exhibited Noah en-
gagged in building the ark, which is in
the last stages of completion. The
Patriarch Is surrounded with his ship
carpentering tools. On the left side,
in well-de6ned and regular order, is
seen the stable in which the Blessed
Redeemer was born. The Munger and
animals, Joseph and Mary, the infant
Jesus. are all of caIve1 wood. Then
is seen the wise men Of the East fol-
lowing the Star OF Bethlehem to the
scene OF the Nativity. Next is re-
pressntation of 81. Peter, having in
his right hand, the keys of heaven,
while with his left he seems to be drag
ging net well filled with fish. An al
legorical picture of Death contains n
skeleton with scythe in hand, and above
this hoyers the angels spoken of by
John in the Apocalypse. The central
portion Of this remarkable carving is,
perhaps, the most worthy OF note, be-
cause OF the very many devices and
figures represented Here are cluster
ed a number Of pillars, such as the
Corinthian, Ionic, Doric, etc. High
mp stands the mystic lamp OF life ON
the Book of the Revelations, bearing
seven distinct seals. Under it stands
the figure OF the Ruler OF the Universe,
who holds in one hand n golden scep-
tire and balances globe in the other.
On either side of this are angels hold
ing the evenly balanced scales of JUS
tice. On pedestals are angels holding
cornucopias, and near by miniature
representation OF the City OF Jerusa-
lem, surrounded by it's high walls, and
on a tablet on the walls are Hebrew
character,, which. whrn translatei,
'read' "Lord, Lord, why hast Thou
forsaken me?" The very central OBJ
ject is a representation of the Crucifix-
ion of the Son Of God, and under it is
an allegorical picture OF the triumph
over Death. and beneath this repre-
sentation OF hell. IL must he remem-
bered that most Of these figures are
distinct aud separate from the general
woodwork. Taken as a whole, il is
certainly one Of the most ingenious,
instructive, and marvellous pieces OF
carving that has ever been seen in this
or any other city. An interesting his
tory is connected with it, and is said TO
be sacred reliquia of the ancient or
der Of Templars. IL has been preserv-
ed with the greatest care aud venera-
ton as an heirloom by the old aud IL
mstrious family OF the Casanovas OF
Bologna, in Italy, and OF which the
rect representative. Its first posses
sion is traced back to Poalo Casanova,
q celebrated jurist, canon OF the Me-
tropolitan Church, prothonotary and
historian, after the tyrannical suppress
sion Of the Knights Companion Of the
Order of Guadente, successors to the
Knights Templar. Some time ago it
was decided 10 have the monument ex-
amined in detail by some of the most
competent savans Of the day, so as to
ascertain as far as possible with such
work its approximate value in reli-
gious and historical point of view
The attention OF several connoisseurs,
professors Of antique lore and others
was called TO it, and they unanimously
pronounced it to be a work OF the
greatest interest, and one which should
be interpreted and described by fully
competent person. The choice fell on
Signor Carlo Pancaldi, the celebrated
archnologist and historian, OF Bologna.
But, curiously enough, the great
authority, like other professors in sim
liar cases, at first attached no impor-
tance TO the monument. On re-exam-
ming it, however, he found the object
exceedingly interesting, and finally he
came to the conclusion that the monu-
ment revealed. in figuratiye or semi
hidden manner, the primitive historic
secrets of the Order of Guadente, a
secret so zealously kept by that ancient
priesthood that they caused the death
Of Promtheus aud Savonarola, and
cruelty persecuted Calico and others.
who, being initiated into the secret,
had dared 20 divnlge it, Philadelphia
Press.
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