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Crucifixion Image 722 From the Huth Psalter, made c.1280 possibly at Lincoln, or perhaps at York. The figure style is marked by somewhat dumpy figures with animated postures and facial expressions. Facial types suggest a liking for caricature, particularly in the uses of 'Jewish' profiles and dark-skinned faces. It has been suggested that the illuminator betrays a strong element of antisemitic sentiment, and reflects the unpopularity of the Jews in England prior to their expulsion from the country by Edward I in 1290. Thus in this Crucifixion miniature, with its caricaturing of dark-skinned faces and hook-nosed facial types. The miniature is an example of the devotional type of Crucifixion scene in which all actions from the nailing of the hands and feet to the spearing of the side are represented simultaneously, thus presenting various foci for extended devout meditation. This type of Crucifixion with different incidents simultaneously presented can be found in nearly contemporary English work in manuscript illumination and embroidery (eg the Ascoli Piceno Cope). The man on the arm of the cross - who with his body weight forces down the crown of thorns, causing blood to pour from Christ's brow - is an instance of how the observer is drawn to focus meditatively on Christ's anguish in his Passion. (This figure on the arm of the cross develops into a devil in such later works as the Gough Psalter - see Image 459 -and the Taymouth Hours). (Morgan 1988, 167-9) back to previous page
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