The Ravenna Baptistery.

are full of life , they are at the same time somewhat disproportionately tall , the heads too small for the height , the limbs slightly angular , and the drapery which floats behind them wanting in grace and correctness of fold . The faces have much

individuality , but the aim has not been fully attained . They are , with all the upper portion , including the central picture , by another , or by other and inferior , hands to those which wrought the Prohets below . They evidently belong to

p a later period , for it cannot be supposed that the lesser talent would be employed on the more important part . We have no other record than that the mosaic decoration was made by order of Bishop Neonbut there is nothing to prove that

, information to be complete . It is therefore reasonable . to suppose , nor , in fact , can there be any doubt upon it either , that the lower mosaics were made at the

time when the building was completed by St . Ursus , in 380—the most probable supposition from their unparalleled beauty even for that date—and that the dome was the portion alluded to as having been ornamented by order of Noon 50 years

afterwards , or that , through some cause , the mosaics in the dome were injured and wrought anew some half a century later . A careful examination of these mosaics

detects the work of different hands , when at the first glance they seem to be by one , and the central picture , though closely resembling in manner the -group of the Apostles , is somewhat superior in style . On the ieft stands St . John the Baptist ,

nude with the exception of the coat of skius hanging from the left shoulder and covering the loins . He stands upon his ri ght foot , with his left raised upon a fragment of the rocky side of the river , so as to bring the knee considerably

upwards . With his left hand he leans upon a crux hastata—the cross being of the Greek form , jewelled on the summit of a jewelled staff—and , with his right arm extended , pours the water from a patera over th -e head of Christ , above which is the dove

descending with extended wings , the figure of the Saviour is entirely nude at > d immersed in the water up to the middle , but the lower limbs are faintly seen throug h it . He stands erect , facing tUe spectator , with his feet close together ,

The Ravenna Baptistery.

his arms hanging motionless by his side , and the hands immersed in the water . The expression of the face is gentle . The beard is pointed , and his hair , divided in the middle , falls over the shoulders There is only one hank of the river seen ,

that where St . John stands . On the water , to the right of the Saviour , floats the half figure—the lower portion not being seen—of a very pagan representation of the river deity , an old man with grey hair and beard , dark sea-green

drapery about the waist , aud holding a reed in his hand . Above him is the word " Iordauu . " Around the heads of the Saviour and St . John are nimbi with silver grounds . This picture is enclosed by a rich circle of ornament , from which festoons of light blue drapery , with red stripes upon it , hang down towards the Apostles .

Gerard Montagu;

GERARD MONTAGU ;

A Winter ' s Tale . BY EMRA HOLMES . ( Continued from page 187 . ) CHAPTER II .

LADY MURIEL ' S DREAM AND GERARD MONTAGU ' S CONFESSION . "MURIEL , Muriel , dear , get up . " The speaker is Mrs . Vaux , who has gone into Lady Muriel ' s bedroom in her sac de wait , looking more peculiar than picturesque . No response .

'' What can be the matter with the child ; she will not wake 1 Margaret , do come and see if you can wake her : I never did see a girl in so sound a sleep in my life ; aud the house may be burned clown over our heads , " Mrs . Vaux continues .

" My lady , my lady , " the housemaid cries , and tries to rouse her wibhout effect . " Law , ma ' am , how she does sleep !" There has been an alarm of fire from some old maids over the way ; fortunately , howevernot founded on fact ; at least it

, was only a chimney , and that was soon put out , but not before the neighbouring households were unnecessarily roused from their slumbers at five o'clock in the morning . At length peace being restored in the