282 Note on the Figure of Rattlebone at Sherston Church. 



I have seen it twice, but not for purposes of this comparison. 

 At Wirksworth, in Derbyshire, we have on a grave cover a large 

 number of persons represented. There is no nimbus there, though 

 Our Lord and the Virgin Mary are among the figures. The eyes 

 are a characteristic feature in these cases, and at Wirksworth they 

 follow an early type and are merely holes drilled in the stone. 

 Here at Sherston the eyes are much more scientifically produced, 

 though I must say that the simple drilled hole produces a most 

 effective eye. The upward glance of the Sherston eyes is re- 

 markable. The drill has clearly been used for the nostrils, though 

 not for the eyes. At Wirksworth there is a seated figure, but, as 

 here at Sherston, the effect of being seated is produced by folds of 

 a stiff character in the dress, not by the shaping of the figure. 

 The famous reliefs in Chichester Cathedral, which came from 

 Selsey, are much more carefully finished than those of which I 

 have spoken ; the figures have a beautiful nimbus, and the draping 

 and all other details are most careful. We cannot compare the 

 two at all. At Durham a large number of the heads of Angliau 

 crosses found a few years ago have figures in high relief as rude as 

 this Sherston Rattlebone. They are without nimbus, and the eyes 

 are not produced by drilling holes. Thus they come much nearer 

 to this figure than any others which I can remember ; but the work 

 at Sherston is much bolder and more individual than that at 

 Durham. The Sherston head has a grim dignity which is really 

 striking. The pendant in front of the figure is not the repre- 

 sentation of a pall. It proceeds from the book held in the left 

 hand, and does not show above the book at all. The only 

 suggestion seems to be that it is a book-marker of unusual 

 splendour. The morse holding the outer robe together on the 

 breast is very clearly marked. There is at the back of the figure 

 a very interesting belt holding the robe back ; the Vicar suggests, 

 as an illustration, the band at the back of a modern dust cloak. 

 This belt is shown as a series of square plaques, linked together, 

 giving much the appearance of a modern metal belt formed of 

 pieces linked together. None of the work which I have mentioned 

 can compare in artistic character with the marvellous reliefs of Our 



