THE TWELVE APOSTLES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12903, 2 July 1936, Page 3

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

PAINTINGS PvM'ND IN ROME

.' “The discovery of the Hypogcum. near the Porta Maggiore in Rome, with its world:' ful frescoes, which excited universal interest among a-rchae-ojog'yt-s, .are one of the most unportjiiit finds connected with the early Christian era that have been made for a. considerable period, ’’ writes Mr. C. ,|. g. Thomson, cum tor of the Wellcome Historical Med cal Museum.

“Under the .experienced guidance of Professor No*, pi Landi, 1 was privileged ho inspect the whole of the underground chambers recently discovered.

“Descend -, ng through an a "eh way. 17 steps giv.y entrance to a larger and more beautiful chamber,-the walls and arch-roof of which arc ornately decorated with frescoes in colour of the greatest interfd. On each wall, oil two sides of the chamb, r, a e shelves or niches for depos Lng the dead below wlrch are cavities about art. Gill, ill depth below the- floor level for the same purpose. “On firs walls above attention :<* at once arrested by the series of paintings of figure's, twelve in number, wlrch, there as little doubt, represent the Apostles. Tho figii'irs, wh eh are about three-quarter Me size, are all in .standing position, alolit dll. apart, and' continue liak-way round the chamber.

“As t-li o eye becomes accustom; xf to the colour, they appear to stand out and almost- take shape, so sk 1fully have they been painted. One is struck with the fine quality of the furt-istie work, wlrch is much sup r nr to what- has hitho'to been discovered of paintings in Roman times. The heads of tho figures are particularly well executed, am.l have evidently been d 1 mealed by a. master hand of the time. The colouring os sombre in tone, and is a- combination of rub browns, tcrrai cotta, red. a little blue and green being blended into tile costumes.

“Recognition of each figure is difficult, but two. which probably may bo St. PoteM and- St. Paul., are in better eond : t : on than the others and appear to have boon executed with greater care. The face of St. Peter is strongly characteristic, and is executed w'lili vigour and power. The ’express'on on the face of St. Raul ns much milder and more benign. “All the gufires- ar bearded, garbed in the toga, and bar-.'footed, none bouig ; represented wearing sandals. Whether they are actual portraits of the Apostles or not it is impossible to say, but they are undoubtedly the earliest known representations, and, Professor Nespf Landi thinks, could not have been -executed later, than the early part of the second century.. Some bricks .discovered a few days ago besir the date of 137, which corroborates his view.”