Notes and Queries, Number 187, May 28, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 187, May 28, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
It must be borne in mind that the subject had long been a familiar
decoration of conventual refectories before the time when Lionardo brought
his profound knowledge of external human nature, and his unsurpassed powers
of executive art, to bear on a subject which had before been treated in the
dry, conventional, inanimate manner of the Middle Ages. The leading
features of the traditional picture are retained: the long table, the linen
cloth, the one-sided arrangement of the figures, the classic drapery, and
the general form and design of the apartment, are all to be found in the
earlier works; and must have been considered, by observers in general, far
more essential to the correct delineation of the scene than any adherence
to the exact description of it in any one of the Evangelists. But as the
subject was usually introduced into refectories for the edification of the
brethren assembled with their superior at their own meals, it does not seem
likely that the treachery of Judas should have been intended to be the
prominent action of the picture. It was a memorial of the institution of
the Eucharist, although the Christ was not represented as dispensing either
bread or wine. In such a case, if any particular point of time was ever
contemplated by the artist, he might judiciously and appropriately select
the moment when the Saviour was announcing, in mysterious words, the close
of his mission--as in St. Matthew and St. Mark; or was teaching them a
lesson of humility when the spirit of rivalry and strife had disclosed
itself among them--as we find in St. Luke and St. John.
It is not perhaps generally known that the statutes of Queen's College,
Oxford, prescribe the order of sitting at the common table in manner which
evidently refers to the _coenaculum_ of the old church painters.
E. SMIRKE.
* * * * *
Minor Notes.
_Scotter Register (County Lincoln)._--The following extracts from the
register of the parish of Scotter, in the county of Lincoln, are perhaps
sufficiently interesting to be worth printing in "N. & Q.":
1. "Eccelesia parochialis de Scotter comitatu Lincolniae dedicata est
Beatis Apostolis Sancto Petro et Sancto Paulo ut apparet in Antiquo
Scripto viduae Loddington de Scotter, viz. in testamento vltimo Thomae
Dalyson, Gen. de Scotter, qui obiit Junii 19^o, anno Domini 1495.
"GUL. CARRINGTON,
"Rector ecl[=i]a ibid."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account