134 THI-: PAGAN-CHRtSTlAX OVERLAP OF THE WISE BIRD. 



nimbus of Its ov.n, and the Man, together with the other Two 

 Persons, is erect. 



Such representations arc more frequent in the north than in the 

 south of Europe. For one Latin, or for two Romanesque examples, 

 there are thirty Gothic. And it is in the latter that the influence 

 we have been attempting to trace is more particularly seen, where 

 the Dove is made an adjunct of the Father, and is placed in such 

 proximity that It appears to be whispering into His right ear, and 

 so suggests, once more, the Verbum, the Divine Wisdom, the Wise 

 Bird. 



Of the illustrations here given, fig. 5 is of a normal group from 

 a wall painting, assigned to the 15th century, discovered four 

 years ago in Boughton Aluph Church, Kent. The red ground of 

 the fresco is " powdered," in black characters, with the sacred letters 

 J.lb.C. The Father sits upon a canopied throne. His bearded 

 head is adorned with a nimbus cruciger. His right hand is raised 

 and makes the Latin Benediction. His left hand supports a 

 crucifix. He wears a tippet over the shoulders. His feet are 

 concealed. The Holy Ghost, as a white Dove, has just issued 

 from the Father's mouth, and is flying downwards towards the 

 Son. The lateral limbs of the cross are of excessive length and 

 thickness. Its upper limb is not apparent, but the lower limb is 

 long, and drops of blood are painted upon it. The head of the 

 Crucified One has hair falling on either shoulder, a pointed beard, 

 and a nimbus. He is clad in a large loin cloth. His feet are 

 indistinct, but are probably crossed. Beneath the whole Group 

 are three circles enclosed in a single circle, to symbolise Trinity in 

 Unity. 



The examples that follow are indicative of pagan influence. Of 

 these, the first is a group from the sculptured tympanum of the 

 south door of the Church of Pontorson, Normandy (fig. 6). The 

 stone is much decayed, and some details are lost. The Father, 

 standing barefoot, is bearded, without visible nimbus, and holds 

 forth with both hands His Infant Son. The Holy Ghost as a 

 Dove, co-equal with the Father in size as well as in merit, stands 



