So long as we're on the topic of representation in art, I've been bothered for
some time by two aspects of an early 16th century Netherlandish altar now in
the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The altar has at its center a carving of the crucifixion. It includes the
features one would expect - typology of the bunch of grapes, and Samson with
the gates of Gaza; the Church represented by the good thief and Mary; the
Synagogue represented by the bad thief - however some elements don't seem to
fit. First, the scene is also framed by depictions of the bronze serpent and
the golden calf. The bronze sperpent is standard crucifixtion typology, but
has anyone else encountered the golden calf in this context? The museum
glossed these as examples of correct and idolatrous use of images. If so (is
anyone aware of patristic or medieval texts which would support this
interpretation?), the scenes would fit the Church/Synagogue division. However,
the sponge and the spear are on the "wrong" sides!
I'd appreciate any suggestions on either aspect: the OT typology or the
"misplacement" of the sponge and the spear.
Phil Feller me salutoe molto virtuosamente,
esp, Software Services tanto che me parve allora vedere
[log in to unmask] tutti li termini de la beatitudine
[log in to unmask] Dante, _Vita Nuova_ III, 1
http://www.skypoint.com/~pfeller
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|