Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-23
PAINTINGS IN THE CATA.
COMBS.


The earliest works OF Christian ar
in Italy are the wall.paintings of th
Calacombs. At first these were merel,
abstract symbols the Labarum, th
Alpha and Omega, the fish used as th
sign for the namc OF Christ. Thel
more pictorial emblems were painted
the dove, representing the Christian
soul freed IRON the body; the peacock
or phenix, type Of Immortality; The
sheep, signiiying the soul in the earthly
life. This last emblem stands in i'm
mediate connection with the earliest
representations Of Christ as the Good
Shepherd. This is the favorite subject
OF the Catacomb paintings. He is de.
picted as beautiful youth In shep.
herds dress carrying a lamb on his
shoulders, or leaning on his staff in the
midst Of flock, or playing on a shep'
herds pipe, while the sheep listen TO
him. The idea OF these pictures is
certainly Biblical but the artistic
form is supposed to be taken from an
old Greek statue Of Mercury carrying
a kid, which existed at Tanagra. For
il must be observed with regard to the
art Of the carly Church that once hav.
ing gained the right to exist, it adopt.
cd without hesitation materials and
forms which had been invented by the
heather. Proceeding on the principle
that what God hath cleansed man may
not call unclean, the Christians repeat.
cd in their religious pictures the types
Of face, the methods of expression, the
artistic mannerisms, which are found
in the wall.paintings of Herculaneum
and PompeiL They personiiied the sun
and the moon, the earth and the sea,
mountains and rivers. They even
adopted heather myths, In o beauti.
ful painting from the ceiling of the
tomb of S. Domitilla, Christ is repre-
sented in the character of Orpbeus
playing upon his Tyre, while trees bend
toward him, and wild beasts gather at
bis feet.
Mingled with these symbols and
We find the first beginnings
Of sacred historical painting The sub.
ects arc chosen impartially from both |
Iestaments, with this difference, that |
The scenes from the Old are used in a
purely typical relation to the new dis
pensation. Noah in the ark typifes
the Christian saved in the ship OF the
Church the history Of Jonah prefg-
Tres the ministry and resurrection Of
Christ Daniel in the lions den is an
to Christian martyrs.
The most common New Testament
subjects are, the Nativity with OK and
lss kneeiDg), the Alteration OF the
dagi, the miracle at Cana, Christ heal.
ng the paralytic, multiplying the
caves and fishes, and, most frequently,
he raising of Lazarus from the dead.
lazarus is represented as mummy
at an open door, before
which Jesus stands with a wand in
lis hand.
The spirit OF these pictures is purely
ymbolical. They do not depict, they
lIhply suggest, thelr SUBJECTS. They
'resuppose in the mind of the beholder
he knowledge of a certain event
which they shall recall to him by
Mystic sign for his comfort and en-
For this is the aim and
emper Of the Catacomb paintings to
trengthen and console. They pass by
be passion and death of tho Lord, to
well upon themes Of gladness aud con.
olation-resurrection, miracles, deliv.
rance, hope. They are joyful and
onfdent. They are flowers blossom.
ig in darkness, stunted, delicate, i'm /
erfect, but full of marvellous bright
ess, an unextinguishable lifc.-HENRY
. VAN DYKE, Jr., in Haper's Mdga- Q
he, for February, {