THE SARCOFAGO di PEMONE, duca di FRIULI

Speranza

THE SARCOFAGO di PEMONE, duca di FRIULI, under the high altar of the church of SAN MARTINO is an old thing, and rude in style.

OUR LORD is there represented as borne upwards by FOUR angels in an aureole formed of leaves within which are two OTHER ANGELS, marked as cherubim by the eyes upon their wings.

THE HAND OF THE FATHER is sculptured above the head of the SON, and STARS and FLOWERS are scattered about the background.

IN THE BAS-RELIEF of the adoration of the MAGI, -- the three kings are said to be portraits of RACHIS, duca di FRIULI and his two brothers: AISTULF and RATCAIT --at one end of the sarcofago, and in that of the meeting of MARY AND ELIZABETH at the other, the MADONNA has a cross cup upon her head, instead of having it traced upon a veil, as in the early Greek manuscripts.

The faces of the figures are WITHOUT EXPRESSION, and their proportions are SHORT AND CLUMSY.

Their outlines, features, and folds of drapery were originally rendered more distinct by colour, traces of which are still visible.