Catalogue, Descriptive and Historical, of the National Gallery of Scotland (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 Excerpt: ...shows the entire composition, and the arrangement of colour in the fresco. (r.s.a.) 15 ft. by 11 ft. Presented by Mrs Dyce The subject of the fresco, taken from the celebrated ancient romanceLa Mort dArthure, or History of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, is a religious allegory, intended to show the importance of pursuing spiritual objects instead of mere chivalric renown. It represents the vision of Christ attended by the four Evangelists, witnessed by Sir Galahad, Sir Perceval and his sister, and Sir Bors, in a chapel of a hermitage into which they had been conducted when in search of the St Grael, or holy vessel used by our Saviour at the Last Supper, and supposed to have been brought miraculously into Britain. The Knight on the left is Sir Galahad, who rushes forward in ecstasy, attracted by the spiritual affinities of his nature to the beatific manifestation of our Lord. Amongst all the knights of the Round Table, Sir Galahad, besides being one of the bravest, was the purest. " My good blade carves the casqnes of men, . My tough lance thrusteth sure; My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure." ' Beyond Sir Galahad are introduced the hermit-priest holding before him the sacramental chalice, and gazing upwards with awe, and a novice bearing a censer, who bows his head with reverence. The opposite group on the right is composed of Sir Perceval, who supports his sister, --both are gazing on the vision with rapture; and farther to the right, Sir Bors. These knights were highly distinguished members of the Round Table, and trusted friends of Sir Galahad.--For fuller particulars, see the Descriptive Handbook of the National Pictures in the Westminster Palace, by T. J. Gullick. Bradbury, Evans, and Co. 531. Mercy. ...