EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS 21 



To the second category belong many of the 

 early Crucifixions. The figure of the Saviour 

 is emaciated to a painful degree. On each side 

 of the Cross hover angels catching in a chalice 

 the holy blood as it falls. At the summit a 

 nesting pelican tears its breast; at the foot a 

 skull is placed within a niche. Here a distinct 

 emotional appeal is made — to man's pity, for 

 the sufferings of the Christ; to his gratitude, 

 since the preciousness of the holy blood is so 

 emphasized. The pelican in its piety is the 

 symbol of Christ's devotion to His Church, and 

 the skull invites meditation upon the eternal 

 death from which He saved us. 



In pictures of the devotional type the 

 spiritual cause or effect of the incident illustrated 

 is usually indicated by symbols. The reason 

 why the Godhead sits as a child upon His 

 Mother's knee is indicated by the apple which 

 He holds in His hand. As the fruit of the Tree 

 of Knowledge of Good and Evil it is the symbol 

 of Adam's fault, which, through His incarna- 

 tion, Christ repaired — and, thereby, to instructed 

 Christians, it foretells the tragedy of the Cruci- 

 fixion. So, in an Annunciation, the lily in the 



