About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson

Legends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts
By Anna Brownell Jameson
Published 1852
Longman, Brown, Green
, and Longmans


 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "The series by Ghirlandajo in the Sassetti chapel consists of six subjects only 1 A famous Florentine legend not to be found at Assisi A child of the Spini family fell from the window of the Palazzo Spini and was killed on the spot While they are carrying the child to the grave the parents invoke St Francis who appears visibly and restores him to life 2 St Francis renounces the inheritance of his father 3 He stands before Pope Honorius III to whom he presents the roses which sprang from his blood 4 He receives the stigmata "

 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "5 St Francis before the Soklan He offers to walk through the fire to prove the truth of his mission 6 Called the death of St Francis but more properly the incredulitv of Jerome The saint lies extended on a bier surrounded by his brethren a bishop with spectacles on his nose is reciting the service for the dead a friar in front most admirablv painted kisses the hand of the saint conspicuous in the group behind Jerome stoops over and places his hand on the wounded side In compartments to the right and left kneel the votaries Francesco Sussetti and his wife Madonna Nera This even in its ruined condition is one of the finest and most solemnly dramatic pictures in the world "


 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "I have an those which have been engraved in Ottley's Specimens of the early Florentine School 1 When St Francis was still in his father's house and in bondage to the world a half witted simpleton meeting him in the market place of Assisi took off his own garment and spread it on the ground for him to walk over prophesying that he was worthy of all honour as one destined to greatness and to the veneration of the faithful throughout the universe 1 2 St Francis gives his cloak to the poor officer The scene is represented in the valley which lies below Assisi and St Francis is on horseback In any other locality this might be mistaken for St Martin 3 The dream of St Francis already related Here our Saviour stands beside the bed pointing to the heaps of armour prepared for the warriors of Christ 4 St Francis kneeling before the crucifix in the church of St Damiano receives the miraculous communication 5 St Francis and his father Pietro Bernardone renounce each other in "


 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "the Piazza of Assisi Francis throws of his garments and receives from the bishop u cloak wherewith to cover him C The vision of Pope Innocent III This is a very beautiful fresco the head of St Francis looking up to heaven as if for aid while he sustaina the falling Church is extremely expressive and so is that of one of the attendants at the pone's bedside who has dropped his head on his arm as overcome with sleep 7 Pope Honorius III confirms the rule of the Franciscan Order 8 St Francis in the chariot of fire On a certain night he had gone ap irt from his brethren to pray but at midnight when some were awake and others sleeping a fiery chariot was seen to enter by the door of the house and drive thrice round the court A globe bright and dazzling a the sun at noon day rested upon it which they knew to be the spirit of St Francis present with them but parted from his body Sticling This was one of the subjects painted by Murillo fur the Capuchins at SpaiD p fa35 Seville and seems to have much perplexed commentators 9 The seats prepared in heaven for St Francis and his Order A "

 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "10 St Fnmcis exorcising Arezzo The city of Arezzo was then distracted by factions and the saint on approaching beheld a company of demons dancing in the air above the walls these being the evil spirits who stirred up men's minds to strife Therenpon he sent his companion Silvester to command them in his name to depart Silvester obeyed crying with a loud voice In the name of the omnipotent God and by command of his servant Francis go out hence every one of you And immediately the demons dispersed and the city returned to peace and propriety In the fresco St Francis kneels in prayer while Silvester stands before the city in a noble attitude of command 11 St Francis before the Soldan this legend has been already related Of this subject the fresco by Ghirlandajo is particularly fine and the bas relief by Benedetto da Maiano most beautiful 12 St Francis lifted from the earth in an ecstasy of devotion 13 St Francis exhibits to his congregation a tableau or theatrical representation of the nativity of our Saviour This is curious as being the earliest instance of those exhibitions still so common in Italy about "



 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "of the thirsty man bending over the fountain to drink known as I Assetato Hist do 1 Act the thirsty man and deservedly praised by Vasari and by Lanzi It is mens engraved in D Agincourt 15 St Francis preaching to the birds Drawing nigh to Bevagno he came to a certain place where birds of different kinds were gathered together whom seeing the man of God ran hastily to the spot and saluting them as if they had been his fellows in reason while they all turned and bent their heads in attentive expectation he admonished them saying Brother birds greatly are ye bound to praise the Creator who clotheth you with feathers and giveth you wings to fly with and a purer air to breathe and who carcth for you who have so little care for yourselves Whilst he thus spake the little birds marvellously commoved began to spread their wings stretch forth their necks and open their beaks attentively gazing upon him and he glowing in the spirit passed through the midst of them and even touched them with his robe yet not one stirred from his place until the man of God gave them leave when with his blessing and at "



 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "16 The death of the young count of Celano St Francis being invited to dine with a devout and charitable noble before sitting down to table privately warned him that his end drew near and exhorted him to confess his sins for that God had given him this opportunity of making his peace in recompense of his hospitality towards the poor of Christ The young count obeyed confessed himself set his house in order and then took his place at the entertainment but before it was over sank down and expired on the spot 17 St Francis preaching before the pope and cardinals all seated in appropriate attitudes under a magnificent Gothic Loggia This fresco and similar subjects are to be referred I believe to the following passage in his life Francis hesitated long between the contemplative and the active religious life He and his disciples were men quite unlearned He wished to persuade others to follow like himself the way of salvation but he knew not how to set about it He consulted his brethren what he should do God said he has given me the gift of prayers but not the gift of words yet as the Son of Man when "



 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "remained silent and astonished in his presence A particular sermon which he preached at Rome before Honorius III may also be alluded to St Francis in the rule given to his brotherhood prescribed short sermons because those of our Saviour were short and as we are not the more heard above so neither are we the more listened to below for our much speaking 18 When St Antony of Padua was preaching at a general chapter of the Order held at Aries in 1224 St Francis appeared in the midst of them his arms extended in the form of a cross 19 St Francis receiving the stigmata as already described 20 The death of St Francis in the midst of his friars angels bear his into heaven "


 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "21 The dying friar Lying at that time on his death bed he beheld the spirit of St Francis rising into heaven and springing forward he cried Tarry father I come with thee and fell back dead 22 St Francis being laid upon his bier the people of Assisi were admitted to see and kiss the stigmata One Jerome sceptical like St Thomas would see and touch before he believed he is here represented kneeling and touching the side the dead brow frowning with anguish 23 The Lament at San Damiano The body of St Francis being carried to Assisi the bearers halt before the porch of the church and are received by St Clara and her nuns St Clara leans over embracing the body another nun kisses his hand 24 This compartment is in a ruined state 25 The vision of Pope Gregory IX This pope before he consented to canonise St Francis had some doubts of the celestial infliction of the stigmata St Francis appeared to him in a vision reproved his unbelief opened his robe and exposing the wound in his side filled a vial with the blood which flowed from it and gave it to the pope who on waking found it in his hand"



 About this book Read this bookLegends of the Monastic Orders as Represented in the Fine Arts By Anna Brownell Jameson: "28 St Francis the vindicator of innocence A certain bishop had been falsely accused of heresy The bishop's cathedral is seen on the left the prison to the right in the midst he is kneeling a priest behind holds the crosier of which he has been deprived The jailer steps forward with manacles and St Francis in his habit is seen floating above in the sky and interceding for his votary "


that was giotto....'s above...


pages 259 till 267