268 General Discussion of the Crosses 



F. The Majesty. 1 



A figure of Christ, common in the 12th century, though also 

 found at eariier and later periods, is called the Majesty. This is 

 based upon Rev. 4. 2—8 ; 5. 1 : ' Behold, a throne was set in heaven, 

 and one sat on the throne. . . . And there was a rainbow round about 

 the throne. . . . And round about the throne were four and twenty 

 seats : and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting. . . . 

 And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. . . . 

 And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were 

 four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast 

 was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast 

 had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 

 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him. . . . 

 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book 

 written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.' 



Certain early representations also make use of Rev. 5. 6, 7 : ' Lo, 

 in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst 

 of the elders, stood a Lamb. . . . And he came and took the book 

 out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.' 



The representations at various periods are sometimes fuller, some- 

 times modified or simplified. In the church of SS. Cosmas and 

 Damian (526—530) all these features appear : The Lamb ; the book 

 (roll) of seven seals open below ; the seven lamps, or candlesticks ; 

 four angels ; four beasts ; twenty-four elders.^ 



A typical example may be found in the 12th century tympanum 

 of the west front of Chartres (central doorway). 



This is a ' Majestas Domini ' or Glorification of Christ. ... In the 

 centre of the tympanum is Christ, with the Dove of the Spirit over 

 His head ; He is surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists : on the 

 left the angel of St. Matthew and the winged lion of St. Mark, on the 

 right the eagle of St. John and the winged bull of St. Luke. The waved 

 band enclosing the group represents clouds. On the hntel are the 

 twelve Apostles arranged in groups of three. ... In the first order 

 of the arch are twelve angels, and in the two other orders the twenty- 

 four elders. 



1 See pp. (17), 21, 25. 



2 Michel, Hist, de VArt 1^. 71-2. Other early examples are : BasiUca of 

 St. Pudentiana, end of 4th century (Michel l^. 44, 45; cf. 41, 43) ; St. Paul 

 fuori le Mura, 440-461 (1^. 51) ; Catacomb of Generosa, 6th century (1^. 74) ; 

 BasiUca of St. Valentine, 7th century (l^. 76; cf. l^. 78). 



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