Img. ID: 39623
Fig. 1: The qualities of Christ and of his enemies Fig. 2: The qualities of Christ and of his enemies
Former front or back woodcut flyleaf S. Fridolin, Schatzbehalter der wahren Reichtümer
Munich Ashkenzi Siddur-Mahzor des Heils, fig. 66
olim BSB Cod.hebr. 69 Nurmberg, 1491
(Munich, SGS Inv. No. 171526) Munich, BSB Rar. 293, fol. 124r-124v
Both front and back woodcuts once formed part of the pastedown bifolia, only their stubs remaining. Remnants of green colour are seen on the recto of the first paper flyleaf of the back cover, indicating that the coloured woodcut was inserted between the last parchment leaf and the two paper flyleaves.
The former front or back flyleaf was removed on 1st December 1862 and is currently in SGS, Inv. No. 171526. It appears in the text of the Schatzbehalter as fig.66 (BSB, Rar. 293, fol. 124r-124v). It depicts Christ in the centre of a hilly landscape, between trees, blessing with his right hand and holding a stick in his left. His haloed head is surrounded by five animals: an elephant, a turtle dove, a lamb, a pelican and a phoenix. A few black birds attack these animals, while the wild animals, wolf (or dog), bear, lion, unicorn, wild boar and a fox at Jesus’ feet tear at his clothes. On the left, between the trees is a female figure with a sheep and on the right is a flock of sheep on a hill (Bellm 1962, 29-30).
Both front and back woodcuts once formed part of the pastedown bifolia, only their stubs remaining. Remnants of green colour are seen on the recto of the first paper flyleaf of the back cover, indicating that the coloured woodcut was inserted between the last parchment leaf and the two paper flyleaves.
The former front or back flyleaf was removed on 1st December 1862 and is currently in SGS, Inv. No. 171526. It appears in the text of the Schatzbehalter as fig.66 (BSB, Rar. 293, fol. 124r-124v). It depicts Christ in the centre of a hilly landscape, between trees, blessing with his right hand and holding a stick in his left. His haloed head is surrounded by five animals: an elephant, a turtle dove, a lamb, a pelican and a phoenix. A few black birds attack these animals, while the wild animals, wolf (or dog), bear, lion, unicorn, wild boar and a fox at Jesus’ feet tear at his clothes. On the left, between the trees is a female figure with a sheep and on the right is a flock of sheep on a hill (Bellm 1962, 29-30).
With frame: 314 x 256 mm. (the frame is slightly cropped)
The text clarifying this image in the Schatzbehalter (BSB, Rar. 293, fol. 124r-124v) is entitled Von der Sucht der Sitten Cristi (In search of Christ’s qualities) and belongs to the 61st-65th responses (Gegenwürfe) dealing with Christ’s qualities and those of his enemies, particularly the Jews. It represents an allegory of the virtues of Christ, opposed to the vices of the Jews. In the text Fridolin explains that the birds and other creatures surrounding Christ’s head are his five qualities: the elephant for Christ’s courage, the turtle dove for his virginity, the lamb for his good heart and gentleness, the pelican for his faithfulness, and the phoenix for his resurrection, in the longstanding Christian tradition. By contrast, the wild animals depicted at Christ’s feet stand for the Jewish priests and other enemies who persecuted him. The Jews are described by Fridolin as jealous dogs, dishonest as foxes, lustful as bears, greedy and cruel like wolves, wild and unclean like pigs, proud as the lion and haughty as a unicorn. He adds that they are mocking like a magpie, impure like a passerine, dirty like the hoopoe, thievish like ravens, faithless like an ostrich, merciless like the owl and blind like bats. The attacking black birds and the owl on the right relate to this description. They do not appear in Capestrano's panel and were added by the Schatzbehalter’s artists to make an acute comparison.
The female figure on the left with a sheep at her feet, as Fridolin indicates, alludes to the parable of the Lost Sheep (Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:3-7), namely the lost sinner. The Lord left ninety-nine sheep on a hill in search for the lost hundredth one, which caused more joy in heaven over a repentant soul than over ninety-nine just souls (PL 76:1247: Gregorius I Magnus, Homiliarum in Evangelia, II/XXXIV, Sunday Sermons III, trans. Toal 1959, 201-202).
The text clarifying this image in the Schatzbehalter (BSB, Rar. 293, fol. 124r-124v) is entitled Von der Sucht der Sitten Cristi (In search of Christ’s qualities) and belongs to the 61st-65th responses (Gegenwürfe) dealing with Christ’s qualities and those of his enemies, particularly the Jews. It represents an allegory of the virtues of Christ, opposed to the vices of the Jews. In the text Fridolin explains that the birds and other creatures surrounding Christ’s head are his five qualities: the elephant for Christ’s courage, the turtle dove for his virginity, the lamb for his good heart and gentleness, the pelican for his faithfulness, and the phoenix for his resurrection, in the longstanding Christian tradition. By contrast, the wild animals depicted at Christ’s feet stand for the Jewish priests and other enemies who persecuted him. The Jews are described by Fridolin as jealous dogs, dishonest as foxes, lustful as bears, greedy and cruel like wolves, wild and unclean like pigs, proud as the lion and haughty as a unicorn. He adds that they are mocking like a magpie, impure like a passerine, dirty like the hoopoe, thievish like ravens, faithless like an ostrich, merciless like the owl and blind like bats. The attacking black birds and the owl on the right relate to this description. They do not appear in Capestrano's panel and were added by the Schatzbehalter’s artists to make an acute comparison.
The female figure on the left with a sheep at her feet, as Fridolin indicates, alludes to the parable of the Lost Sheep (Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:3-7), namely the lost sinner. The Lord left ninety-nine sheep on a hill in search for the lost hundredth one, which caused more joy in heaven over a repentant soul than over ninety-nine just souls (PL 76:1247: Gregorius I Magnus, Homiliarum in Evangelia, II/XXXIV, Sunday Sermons III, trans. Toal 1959, 201-202).