not but deem allusive to baptism, and remarked that sometimes, instead of the figure holding in both hands a fish, it had in the right hand a knife—expressive perhaps of the vindictive power of God. In reply to a question as to the manner of depicting Vice, reference was made to certain representations of men entwined by serpents, and of women sucked by toads and snakes. The Director then enquired the usual mode in Anjou of figuring Christ—whether by surrounding Him with the evangelistic emblems—one hand being in the attitude of benediction, and the other holding an open book—or by the Cluniac mode, with His arms spread out on each side; and whether the representation of God the Father by a hand placed on a crossed nimbus was ever met with in Anjou.
An interesting discussion then ensued as to the infrequency of Christ being represented on the cross previously to the end of the twelfth century—earlier figures of Christ being either in an attitude of glory or as a good shepherd—M. de Caumont remarking that the last judgment and the pains of hell were not depicted before the eleventh century. A question whether there existed any general collection of inscriptions from the churches of Anjou was replied to in the negative. Some well-executed drawings of the several mouldings, sculptured shafts, capitals, &c. of the cloister of St. Aubin, and of David's combat with Goliah, were then exhibited, and this led to a conversation on the Polychromy of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which terminated the general afternoon sitting; but at seven in the evening an assembly of the Society's administrative council took place, when various sums were accorded for the reparation of several churches, and the upholding of certain interesting ruins.
At the morning sitting of the 25th, business began by an account of the remarkable objects observed during the preceding evening's archæological promenade, especially of certain melon-like ornaments in Trinity church, and the hexagonal masonry of the church of Ronzeray, built A.D. 1025. It was then announced that a course of archæology had been established in the Diocesan Seminary of Touraine, and that several churches in that province had been restored in consequence of a circular address from the Archbishop to his clergy. A sum having been voted for the upholding of the aqueduct at Luines, and of another Roman monument near it, the Director then commenced his usual questions relative to Pointed architecture, but from the rarity in Anjou of this style, except in castles, the only observation on it was that its mouldings were less boldly undercut than in Normandy and elsewhere. It was next asked if there existed in the vicinity any representations of Christ on the cross reposing in the bosom of the Father, but of this the only known example was in a stained glass window of the thirteenth century in Tours cathedral. The introduction of what is called the Renaissant style having been briefly observed upon, the Director requested information as to the ancient interments in the city of Angers, and especially those with medals or arms, from which it appeared that though skeletons were sometimes found in rude excavations of the rock, they were generally in uncovered coffins either of coarse shelly stone or ferruginous sand-stone. A
