Image
© Hildesheim, St Godehard |
| Psalm: |
36
|
| Iconography: |
In
the upper part of the initial, Christ sits on the cross bar speaking
intimately to the psalmist. The psalmist stands pointing beyond the
barrier of the letter and beyond the blue realm of heaven, to a glum
woman who holds a book with the word Delight written on it.
The point of the psalm is to Be delighted in the lord: and he
will give to you the requests of your heart. In that context,
the psalmist has his mind fixed firmly on God and the humble woman
in her earthly zone could equally represent the meek delighting in
peace.The meek shall inherit the earth: and shall be delighted
in the multitude of peace. However, to a monastic reader, the
woman, excluded from the male and divine part of the letter, and clasping
the word Delight to her breast, was a sign of temptation,
delight in the flesh rather than the spirit. Dodwell (AP, 218)
points out that the Rule of St Benedict exhorts monks to chastity
with the words 'And in regard to the desires of the flesh, we must
believe that God is always present to us, as the prophet saith to
the Lord: O Lord, all my desire is before Thee'. (Rule, chapter
vii)
|
| Art: |
The
right edge of Christ's cloak was drawn with jagged folds. The delicate
drawing of the psalmist's face and beard has not been painted over.
|
| Thread
stitch: |
yes |
| Historical
Relevance: |
|
| Quire: |
9
|
|
