Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

io6 Ancient Coptic Churches. [CH. m.
Her
palm outwards, with a gesture of deprecation.
face has been injured by some malicious person, who
has picked out the eyes : but there is a look of
sorrow and fear upon it, not of rejoicing. The
angel, too, has an almost pained expression of so-
lemnity : the eyebrows are drawn together, and lips
half open. The treatment, in point of expression,
reminds one very curiously of Mr. Burne Jones'
the scale is
picture of the same subject, though
much smaller. The angel's wings are a soft green
with rich red underwings. A shaft of deep green
light is slanting down on the Virgin's head. In
the background is an arcade of Corinthian pillars
supporting a Byzantine building. Here the draw-
ing is rude and careless, although the figures are
modelled and coloured with all the skill of a master's
hand.
2. The Nativity. The Virgin is lying on a couch
in the centre ; below, a desert pastoral scene, amid
which the Child is being washed in a large brass
vessel. Higher up on the dexter side are the Magi
bringing gifts; and above the Virgin, in another scene,
the Child is lying in a manger. This is the conventional
composition as found also in all the western
Churches.
3. Christ in Glory. This is the central picture
of the upper row. The background in gold ; at
the four corners are the apocalyptic symbols ;
in the
midst an orb of dark yet faint green colour, in which
Christ is seated with outspread hands. The hair of the
face is full, but short, and the type quite unusual.
The expression is severe but powerful. The drapery,
particularly the folds falling from the knees, is
beautifully rendered.