APPENDIX 123

THE CHOIR

NORTH WALL¹

1. Gabriel appearing to the Virgin and offering her the palm-branch from Paradise, in token of her approaching death. Much injured and scarcely recognizable.

2. The Virgin’s dying interview with S. John. She is sitting up in bed, and John kneels before her, weeping and leaning his head on her lap. Our Saviour hovers in the air above them, and, outside the building, three of the Apostles are seen approaching, guided by a floating angel.

3. The Death of the Virgin, surrounded by the Apostles. The Byzantine composition, slightly modified; the angels have just given her soul into the arms of Christ, who presses it to his bosom.

SOUTH WALL

4. The Funeral Procession;-the bier borne by the Apostles, S. John in front as chief mourner, and carrying the palm-branch,-the High Priest’s arm withered, as he attempts to overthrow the bier.

5. The Assumption of the Virgin,-rising to heaven, attended by angels, the tomb below, and the Apostles, fallen to the ground to the right and left, veiling their faces or looking up after her.

6. The Coronation of the Virgin by our Saviour.

¹ [These descriptions are from Lindsay, Christian Art, vol. ii. p. 194.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]