Highways and Byways in Cambridge and ElyConybeare, John William Edward
History
Highways and Byways in Cambridge and Ely
Conybeare, John William Edward
Cambridgeshire (England) -- Description and travel; Isle of Ely (England) -- Description and travel
The fourth choir window:
TYPE | TYPE
Cain murders Abel. | The mocking of David by Shimei.
|
ANTITYPE | ANTITYPE
Judas betrays Christ. | The mocking of Christ.
Cain is killing Abel with a large bone. Note the ruby fires of their
respective altars in the back-ground, Abel's spiring upwards in full
flame, while Cain's is blown down to the earth. In the betrayal scene
the face of Malchus, as he lies upon the ground with his broken
lantern under him, should be observed. It is highly expressive.
* * * * *
The fifth window:
TYPE | TYPE
Jeremiah in prison. | Noah mocked by Ham.
|
ANTITYPE | ANTITYPE
Christ before Annas. | Christ mocked by Herod.
* * * * *
We have now reached the last window of the northern range, that in the
north-east corner of the Chapel. It shows us:
TYPE | TYPE
Job scourged by Satan. | Solomon crowned by his mother.
| (_Cant._ iii. 11.)
|
ANTITYPE | ANTITYPE
Christ scourged by Pilate. | Christ crowned with thorns.
In the scourging scene we may note the singularly unpleasing features
and expression of the Saviour's face; which Dr. James holds to be
purposely so delineated, in reference to the words of Isaiah: "He hath
no form nor comeliness, and when we see Him there is no beauty that we
should desire Him." We do not, indeed, find in the entire series of
windows one single attempt to represent Him worthily. The conventional
face, familiar throughout the ages to Christian Art, even from the
first century, and probably a real recollection of Him, is
consistently departed from (as is characteristic of the Renaissance
period), and with it has gone every divine and exalted association.
Where even the genius of Michael Angelo failed, we cannot look to find
the glassworkers of London succeeding.
* * * * *
The great east window has no central messengers, and thus contains six
scenes, each occupying three lights, arranged thus:
The Nailing to the | Christ crucified | The Descent from the
Cross. | (the Piercing). | Cross.
| |
Ecce Homo! | The Sentence. | The Way of Sorrows.
There is little to call for special notice in this window. Structural
conditions necessitate the Cross being of abnormal height. In the
background of the Way of Sorrows is a vivid ruby patch, which may be
meant for the Field of Blood.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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