THORNS 127 



of the Crown of Thorns of the Holy One,' the 

 first crown with which Jesus Christ was crowned 

 was made of white-thorn and was removed 

 before the Crucifixion and replaced by a second 

 de juncis marinis. 



But in the great majority of scenes from the 

 Passion the crown is merely formed of large thorns 

 without any attempt to reaUze any particular 

 natural growth. In Germany, where Entomb- 

 ments and Pietas were more often painted 

 than in other countries, the crown is frequently 

 green, in allusion, it is suggested, to the words: 

 * If these things be done in the green wood, what 

 shall be done in the dry? ' 



In these pictures the crown of thorns, if not 

 still upon the Saviour's head, is usually placed 

 very prominently in the foreground, marking 

 to some extent the divinity of the dead Christ, 

 for, since life had fled, there could be no 

 halo. 



In Northern art the crown of thorns remains 

 always unchanged, the symbol of Christ's suffer- 

 ings, but in at least one Italian Pieta,^ the dry 

 prickles round the dead Christ's brow have 



' Nierenberg. - Mantegna, Belle Arti, Verona. 



