Sacred and Legendary Art by Anna Jameson

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1895. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ADDITIONAL NOTES ON ANGELS 1. In a picture by Gentile da Fabriano (Berlin Gallery), the Virgin and Child are enthroned, and on each side of the throne is a tree, on the branches of which are little red Seraphim winged and perched like birds, singing and making music. I remember also a little Dutch print of a Iiiposo, in which five little angels are perched on the trees above, singing and playing for the solace of the divine Infant. Thus we have Dante's idea of the Uccelli di Bio reproduced in a more familiar form. 2. In the Convent of Sant' Angelo at Bologna, Camillo Procaccino painted the Acts of the Holy Angels in the following order: 1. The Fall of the Dragon. 2. The Angels drive Adam and Eve from Paradise. 3. The three Angels visit Abraham. 4. The Angel stays the arm of Abraham. 5. The Angel wrestles with Jacob. 6. The Angels visit Jacob in a Dream. 7. The Angel delivers the three Children in the burning fiery Furnace. 8. The Angel slays the Host of Sennacherib. 9. The angel protects Tobit. 10. The Punishment of Heliodorus. 11. The annunciation to Mary. It will be remarked that all these subjects are strictly scriptural. III. THE FOUR EVANGELISTS Matthew wrote for the Hebrews; Mark, for the Italians; Luke, for the Greeks; for all, the great herald John. -- Gregory Nazianzen. Since on the Four Evangelists, as the witnesses and interpreters of a revealed religion, the whole Christian Church may be said to rest as upon four majestic pillars, we cannot be surprised that representations of them should abound, and that their effigies should have been introduced into Christian places of worship from very early times. Generally, we find them represented together, grouped, or in a series; sometimes in their collective character, as the Four Witnesses; sometim...