THE OLIVE 123 



One of the putti which fly round the feet 

 of the Madonna in a Spanish ' Immaculate Con- 

 ception ' usually carries a branch of olive, and 

 that, too, bears the same meaning. As an olive 

 tree in a pleasant field she brings peace and con- 

 solation to mankind. She is the ' Mater Con- 

 solatrix.' 



Sodoma painted a stately figure of Saint 

 Victor,' with sword and palm, and the] little 

 rose-crowned child-angel who supports his shield 

 holds above it a branch of oHve, symbol of the 

 peace which to a Christian warrior should be 

 the end of victory. 



The same idea dominates the ' Judith ' ' of 

 BotticeUi. The slayer of her country's enemy 

 returns thoughtfully home, satisfied but not 

 exultant. In her right hand is her sword, carried 

 low; upright, in her left, a branch of ohve. 

 ^ Though her deed was bloody, she had brought 

 peace to the land. 



Flemish art neglects the olive, and except in 

 the drawings of Martin Schongauer,^ whose 

 grave gentle Gabriels wear ohve crowns, it is 

 seldom seen in Germany. The reason is easy 



1 Palazzo Pubblico, Siena. ' Uf6zi, Florence. ^ Munich. 



