The Artist's Depiction of the Passion

Danger; but the citizens and sharers in the religion for which she died, having marveled together at her courage and the sacredness of the virgin, having placed the shrine near the temple and laid down the casket, perform honors to her and make the annual feast a common and widespread celebration, a panegyris.

Therefore, the celebrants of the mysteries of God always honor the memory by word and by intention, and they teach the associated people with care how she completed the contest of endurance. And the painter himself, through his art, having engraved with all possible power the whole history upon linen, placed before the shrine a sacred spectacle; and here is the artistic skill.

A judge sits high upon a throne, looking bitterly and with hostility at the virgin; for he is angry whenever the art seeks even with soulless materials. And there are spear-bearers of the ruler and many soldiers; some carrying the tablets of the memoranda and styluses, one of whom, having raised his hand from the wax, looks intensely at the one being judged, turning his whole face, as if rising to intercede, speaking so that she might not write incorrectly or errantly concerning the hearing, being weary.

And the virgin stands in a purple tunic and robe, signifying philosophy, as it seemed to the writer, and her appearance is charming, as it seems to me, the soul having been beautified by virtues. And two soldiers lead her toward the ruler, one pulling her by the face, the other hurrying from behind. The appearance of the virgin is gripped by modesty and severity; for she indeed bows toward the earth as if reddening the faces of the men, but she stands unshakeable, suffering nothing in the cowardly contest.

If I had previously praised other painters, I would have beheld the drama of that woman of Colchis, as she is about to bring to the children the...

A sword divides the face with mercy and anger; one of the eyes manifests wrath, while the other manifests the mother being pitied and trembling. Now I have shifted the wonder of the Scripture from that idea to this one; and I am most ignorant of the artist, because he has rather mixed the bloom of colors, combining shame and courage together, through natural sufferings.

Moving forward into the face of the imitation, certain criminals in small tunics, already naked, were beginning the work; and the one, seizing the head and leaning it toward the back, provided for the other a suitable position for the punishment of the virgin's face; and the assistant was cutting out the pearly teeth; and a hammer and a chisel appear as the instruments of the punishment. My eyes weep from here, and the passion strikes my speech; for the painter has colored the drops of blood so vividly that you might say they are truly flowing from the lips, and you would depart mourning.

After these things, a prison; and again the solemn virgin sits alone in light-colored garments, stretching out her hands toward heaven and calling upon God, the helper of the distressed. While she prays, the sign appears above her head, which indeed the law commands Christians to worship and to inscribe, a symbol I think of the passion which was receiving her.

Immediately, indeed, and after a little while, the painter kindled a fierce fire elsewhere, making the flame by applying red color here and there. He stands her in the middle, having spread her hands toward heaven, showing no pain in her face, but on the contrary rejoicing because she has emigrated to the incorporeal and blessed life.

Up to this point the painter has set his hand and I too my speech; it is time for you, if you wish, to finish the Scripture, so that you may understand accurately, lest we have come much after the explanation.