282 Note on the Figure of Rattlebone at Sherston Church. 
I have seen it twice, but not for purposes of this comparison. — 
At Wirksworth, in Derbyshire, we have on a grave cover a large — 
number of persons represented. There is no nimbus there, though — 
Our Lord and the Virgin Mary are among the figures. The eyes — 
are a characteristic feature in these cases, and at Wirksworth they — 
follow an early type and are merely holes drilled in the stone. _ 
Here at Sherston the eyes are much more scientifically produced, — 
though I must say that the simple drilled hole produces a most | 
effective eye. The upward glance of the Sherston eyes is re- 
markable. The drill has clearly been used for the nostrils, though — 
not for the eyes. At Wirksworth there is a seated figure, but, as — 
here at Sherston, the effect of being seated is produced by folds of — 
a stiff character in the dress, not by the shaping of the figure, © 
The famous reliefs in Chichester Cathedral, which came from — 
Selsey, are much more carefully finished than those of which I 
have spoken ; the figures have a beautiful nimbus, and the draping © 
and all other details are most careful. We cannot compare the 
two at all. At Durham a large number of the heads of Anglian — 
crosses found a few years ago have figures in high relief as rude as — 
this Sherston Rattlebone. They are without nimbus, and the eyes — 
are not produced by drilling holes. Thus they come much nearer — 
to this figure than any others which I can remember; but the work — 
at Sherston is much bolder and more individual than that at ; 
Durham. The Sherston head has a grim dignity which is really — 
striking. The pendant in front of the figure is not the repre- § 
sentation of a pall. It proceeds from the book held in the left — 
hand, and does not show above the book at all. The only 
suggestion seems to be that it is a book-marker of unusual — 
splendour. The morse holding the outer robe together on the 
breast is very clearly marked. ‘There is at the back of the figure 
a very interesting belt holding the robe back ; the Vicar suggests, — 
as an illustration, the band at the back of a modern dust cloak. 
This belt is shown as a series of square plaques, linked together, 
giving much the appearance of a modern metal belt formed of 
pieces linked together. None of the work which I have mentioned 
can compare in artistic character with the marvellous reliefs of Our 
