The Arts and Crafts of Older Spain, Volume 3 (of 3)Williams, Leonard
History
The Arts and Crafts of Older Spain, Volume 3 (of 3)
Williams, Leonard
Decorative arts -- Spain -- History
[60] As for the clothing of sacred images in Spain, even these are
subject to changes in the fashion of costume. Ford makes merry over
"the Saviour in a court-dress, with wig and breeches." Swinburne
wrote in 1775, from Alicante: "We have been all the morning in
great uneasiness about Sir T. G.'s valet de chambre, who, till
within this hour, was not to be found in any of the places he
usually frequents. His appearance has quieted our apprehensions;
and it seems he has been from sunrise till dinner-time locked up
in the sacristy of the great church, curling and frizzling the
flaxen periwig of the statue of the Virgin, who is to-morrow to be
carried in solemn procession through the city."
A similar passage occurs in one of the letters of Lady Mary Wortley
Montagu. "I was particularly diverted," she wrote from Nuremberg in
1716, "in a little Roman Catholic church which is permitted here,
where the professors of that religion are not very rich, and
consequently cannot adorn their images in so rich a manner as their
neighbours. For, not to be quite destitute of all finery, they have
dressed up an image of our Saviour over the altar in a fair,
full-bottomed wig, very well powdered."
APPENDIX C
DESCRIPTION OF THE _CUSTODIAS_ OF SEVILLE AND CORDOVA
The _custodia_ of Seville cathedral is described by its author, Juan de
Arfe, in the following terms:--
The shape is circular, with projecting friezes and bases. The _custodia_
is four yards high, and is divided into four orders of symmetrical
proportions, the second order being smaller by two-fifths than the
first, the third smaller by the same fraction than the second, and the
fourth than the third. Each order rests upon four-and-twenty columns,
twelve of which are of a larger size, and wrought in relief. The other
and the smaller twelve are striated, and serve as imposts to the arches.
All these orders are of open work, containing twelve _vistas_
(prospects) apiece. Six are of full dimensions, and the other six spring
from half-way up the larger ones, as is shown in the appended design,
which I will not explain further, as the proportion and harmony can be
judged of from the plan (see Vol. I., Plate xvii.).
FIRST ORDER
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