The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-06

efigy fs Older 1T is found in the an
rque vessels Of glass and ea9then ware
used by the Christians in the early part
Of the third century. with her name in
scrtbed. In none of these images. how
ever. nor yet in the mosaics in the apse
of SAINT" Agnesi.H the venerable
church beyond the Porta Pa, erected,
according TO tradition. by Constantine
the Great at the request Of his daug1-
ter Constanta. is the lamb introduced,
which ia later times has been her in
separahle companion in the myriad
forms of art dedicated to her. Some
bearing the palm Of martyr. and again
she holds a branch of olive with the
palm and is crowned with olive
Next to the Madonna, St. Agnes
seems to have appealed most 70 the
masters of all schools of art
In the rare engraving by Martin
Schoen she is represented as looking
down meekly.
In a picture by Andrea del sarto. at
Pisa. she is the martyr. seated partly
yelled. holding the palm in her right
hand with the other around the neck
of a lamb The drapery is amber and
violet. and the exquisite features are
safd to be those Of The idealized head
OF Del Sarto's beautiful but worthless
wife
Paul veronese represents her in the
Venice academy as the patrOness OF
nlaidenheod- presenting q nun 10 the
i'm the Louvre, she is also a martyr,
presenting her palm to Christ
D0meuichinO. who prOfesssd Spe-
cial generation for St Agnes. was
often called upon to paint her, one Of
the most famous OF his pictures being
the "Afartvrdom. IN her church, at
Bologna. In this the saint kneels be-
fore a pile of fagots. whose fire has
just been extinguished by divine inter
position Two of the executioners lie
a ON
drawing her head back by the hair.
plunges his sword into her bosom.
Above the opened heavens show Christ
delivering to the angels the palm and
crown for the martyr The martyr
dom scene is also repeated by Tintoret-
to in the St. Maria DELI OrtO, at
Venice.
The legend Of St Agnes is one OF the
oldest in the Christian church. and one
Of the most authentic. St Jerome,
writing in the fourth century, says that
in mis- time her fame was spread through
an nations.
According to ecclesiastical tradition.
she was born Christian of noble Ro-
man family. AT a very early age she
was distinguished for her gracious
sweetness and humility as well as sur
passing beauty.
When only Is she was sought In mar
riage by the son Of the project Sem
pronius but she repealed all his ad-
VanCes and declined his beautiful and
costly gifts saying Away from me.
tempter for I am already betrothed to
a lover greater and fairer than any
earthly sutton To him I have pledged
my faith. and he viii crown me with
jewels com2ared with which thy gifts
are druss-"
Then the young man fell sick OF IN
raquited love. and his father undertook
to Intercede with the maid and her par
ents for him, but all to no avail
" men Sempronius discovered the rea-
comma nded her TO become a vestaI vir-
gin. believing that she would then be in
his power. but she again refused. say
ing. "Thinkest thou that I who would
hoI listen 10 thy son. who IS yet man.
Woull bow down to vain images which
are but insensible wood and stene2"
Then SemDronius loaded her with
chains and ordered her to be dragged
before the affairs OF the gods where she
might be exposed TO outrage AS the
soldiers began to strip her Of her raj
lnsnt. her hair became q veil. covering
whole body. and a white and shining
s8l.n e9t deseended with which she
el-thed herself joyfuIy-
Ehen the whole place was filed by a
great Light. brighter than the sun at mid
day SO that the son of Sempronius. en-
tering vas struck blind and fell down in
cclTuIsi1ns. Moved 10 c0ruDaes iou bv the
tears of his father and mother the maiden
IraNed- ard he was restored to health.
Then Sempronius would have released her.
nHt the multitude declared Ter a sorce-
lrfs ara CAttlloIEE AgF lEr aaarl- she
vas bound 70 q stake and the fagots were
lighted. 0ut refused to burn At last q
soldier climbed the pile and killed her with
ms 7"cfl. January ~ 5tt- she was buried
by the Christians in the Via Nomentana.
ard day and night they assembled there
10 offer UP their dev0tions.
Only few years after her death her
remains were reinterred in the Sarc0pha-
gus which stands underneath the altar of
the church erected by Constantine. Not
withstanding many renovations. this
Church Of st. Agnese still retains its
antique form and design So deep below