the background being diapered with a faint scroll, bearing
red cinquefoils.
From this pier opens a large pointed arch into the
chancel, and on the dexter spandril of this arch stands
painted the whole-length figure of a king, royally vested
and crowned, holding in his left hand a sceptre, his right
hand and arm being extended towards an opposite figure
of a pilgrim.1
The figure of the pilgrim,2 on the sinister spandril of
the arch, is of smaller dimensions than that of the king.
He is bearded; his arms and legs uncovered, but his
body clothed in a garment formed of sheepskins, the
tufts of wool being shown upon it. He carries in his
left hand, or is, rather, supported by his palmer's staff or
bourdon, to which is attached, by a strap, a branch of
the Holy Palm. His head-covering, a large hat, hangs,
by a-cord passing across his chest, at his back. His
scrip is towards the front of his figure, strapped together,
and the straps passing over his shoulders. His
right hand and arm are extended to their full length,
towards the opposite figure of the king, either in invocation
or to receive the gift that the monarch might
have held towards him. This figure appears to be
climbing over rough and difficult ground, while the
king stands on a solid base, which may be supposed to
represent the platform of his throne.
The general background of these two figures is divided
by double red lines into regular courses and blocks, and
in the centre of each block is painted a red flower of
five leaves, the centres pierced. Above the whole, a
little below the oak ceiling of the aisle, is painted, on a
red ground, a bold and flowing branch of fig-tree and its
1 Unfortunately, a
defect of the wall, repaired by modern plastering,
prevents our knowing whether this hand towards the pilgrim did not
hold
some gift; .perhaps a crown, the " POLI SERTUM " alluded
to in the scroll.
2 This figure of the pilgrim was not discovered until
1857.
|