The Crucifix and the Balance

Abstract

In the important South German MS of the Apocalypse, Ars Moriendi, and astronomical and theological treatises, now in the Wellcome Museum in London, there is a miniature, one aspect of which is of considerable iconographical interest as well as being of very great rarity (P1. 40oa). A sister book to the Wellcome MS is found in the Casanatense Library in Rome, Codex I404,1 which contains a similar miniature on f.37 verso (P1. 40ob). Both MSS are of the same date, the first half of the fifteenth century, and show considerable iconographic invention and independence. This may account for the fact that no exact parallel has been found to these two pictures, though, as I believe may be shown, the idea at the back of the artist's mind was inspired by quite a venerable array of theological writings and at least one miniature of an earlier date 2 (P1. 39d). The miniature to be discussed is on f. 62b of the Wellcome MS. It represents Christ on the Cross with blood streaming from His wounds. On the right of the Cross are three figures all apparently representing the same person. The man on the outside of the group bears a cross upon his shoulders. Near him is the inscription: "Gregorius. Si passiones Christi debite recolentur non est difficile onus quod facile non portetur." ' A second figure, the middle one of the three, walks towards the Crucifix displaying the Five Wounds in his body. An inscription reading: "Augustinus. Verus penitens cor semper figat in quinque wlnera Christi ibi invenit deuocionem compunctionem fontem lacrimarum remissionem peccatorum amplexandum caritatis et osculum pacis" would seem to apply to him.4 At the foot of the Cross stands the third figure. He embraces the feet of Christ. His inscription appears to be : "Passio Christi est meditanda tibi ad imitandum ad compaciendum ad quiescendum ad mirandum et exultandum." Thus the outside and middle figures apparently represent the stages of imitation and fellow suffering, while the third one personifies three stages of meditation. On the left of the Crucifix an entirely different scene is shown, which has nothing to do with what is going on on the opposite side. It represents a dying5 man sitting up in bed, his hands raised in supplication to the Man of Sorrows who appears before him. Two inscriptions belong to this part of the picture. The first, which will be discussed more fully later, is : "Utinam appenderentur peccata mea in statera passio Christi in una parte et peccata