Essays on Life 



bigger than an apple. She is rushing up the 

 steps with open arms towards the High Priest, 

 who is standing at the top. For her it is 

 nothing alarming ; it is the High Priest who 

 appears frightened ; but it will all come right 

 in time. The Virgin seems to be saying, 

 " Why, don't you know me ? I'm the Virgin 

 Mary." But the High Priest does not feel so 

 sure about that, and will make further in- 

 quiries. The scene, which comprises some 

 twenty figures, is animated enough, and 

 though it hardly kindles enthusiasm, still 

 does not fail to please. It looks as though 

 of somewhat older date than the Birth of 

 the Virgin chapel, and I should say shows 

 more signs of direct Valsesian influence. In 

 Marocco's book about Oropa it is ascribed to 

 Aureggio, but I find it difficult to accept 

 this. 



The seventh, and in many respects most 

 interesting chapel at Oropa, shows what is in 

 reality a medieval Italian girl school, as nearly 

 like the thing itself as the artist could make 

 it ; we are expected, however, to see in this the 

 high-class kind of Girton College for young 



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