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Fig. 83. From a liturgical manuscript, "The life of Christ"
Probably painted at Limoges during the third quarter of the XIIth century Pierpont Morgan Library, New York
the eyes of the figures are usually too large, and the attitude stiff. From the heaviness of the face lines one is reminded of the technique of the earliest painted glass. However, notwithstanding the artistic defects of the picture, a close study of some of its principal figures will prove of the greatest interest. Selecting first the soldier who grasps the hand and garment of Christ, we note the shape of his mail hauberk. It descends to just above his knee and is divided in front up to the fork of his legs. Around its lower edge is a binding of what appears to be leather. The hauberk, owing to its weight, clings closely to the legs and body, and so suggests a satisfactory explanation of the trouser-like aspect of the hauberk skirts that figure in the Bayeux needlework; for it is clear if any of the soldiers in this illustration were viewed in direct profile, the lower part of the hauberk would certainly
