Christian Iconography or the history of Christian art in the Middle Ages. Volume 1. The history of the Nimbus, the Aureole, and the Glory; representations of the Persons of the Trinity

554 Pages·47.54 MB·English

by  Didron Adolphe Napoléon, Stokes Margaret.

jj b o K o v
CHRISTIAN ICONOGRAPHY;
OK,
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN ART
IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
BY THE LATE
ADOLPHE NAPOLEON DIDROK
'BANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY E. J. MILLINGTON, AND COMPLETED
WITH ADDITIONS AND APPENDICES
MARGARET STOKES.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
THE HISTORY OF THE NIMBUS, THE AUREOLE, AND THE GLORY;
REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY.
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET,
COVENT GARDEN.
1886.
N
v.\
COO.I LONDON
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STAMFORD 3TBEET AND CHARING CROSS.
PUBLISHEKS' NOTE.
THE first volumeofthe followingworkin itsEnglish form
has been before the public for many years; but, though
published in the expectation that the Frenchwork would
ultimately be completed in accordance with the scheme
laiddownbyM. Didroninhisintroduction,thefactthathe
did notfully carryouttheoriginal plan led to theEnglish
version remaining a fragment. Much material was no
doubt in the author's possession at the time of his death,
and a large number of illustrations had been prepared for
the continuation of the work but, beyond a few sheets
;
of printed matter, concluding the history of the Trinity,
which were not included in the first volume ofthe trans-
lation, and various papers in some archaeologicaljournals,
nothing in the shape of a continuation appeared during
the lifetime of M. Didron. The hope expressed by the
authorattheclose ofhischapterontheIconographyofthe
Trinity that, the path having once been opened, other
investigators would carry on the work of study and
observation, has remained without an apparent result,and
the historyofthe Angels, ofthe Devil, ofthe persons and
scenesoftheOldTestament,oftheGospel,andofmediaeval
legend has remained unwritten.
Unwilling to leave matters in this unsatisfactoiy state,
the publishers called in the aid of Miss Margaret Stokes,
who was already known as an accomplished student and
writer in this branch of art, to carry on the work. It is
difficult for the reader to appreciate the great labour
which was demanded and the knowledge which was
requisite for such a task, involving as it did the identi-
ficationofa large numberofillustrationswhichM. Didron
iv PUBLISHERS' NOTE.
had already prepared, and the recognition of the sources
from which they had been derived. But, this laborious
work having been accomplished, the reader may feel
confidence that, with the help of some of the author's
published papers, Miss Stokes has been able to carry on
the treatise on the lines that were originally laid down
for it. Further details relating to this continuation and
to the appendices which have been added will be found
in their places in the volume.