LAUSR

A recent paper by H. Valdes-Socin and M. Vuidar [1] has reported an instance of a painting of Christ with female characteristics, such as breasts and feminine curves, suggesting a spiritual androgyny. This painting, “a Lamentation around the remains of Christ” dating from the sixteen century, can be found in the Museum of the Hotel Dieu in Lessines (Belgium). I describe here an earlier such iconography (Fig. 1). It is the front cover of a codex from the thirteenth century, probably of Italian origin, made of ivory and displayed in the Cluny Museum in Paris. It represents a basic crucifixion scene and is analogous to many such items well described by Danielle Gaborit-Chopin [2]. The disposition of the figures is the same: Christ in the middle, surrounded by Jacob and Luke, the sun and the moon, Maria and Joseph, Saint Vitalis and Saint Valeria, Saint Pantaleon, Gregorius and a few others. Strikingly, the figure of Christ has very long hair and very feminine breasts. Like all the other figures, he also has a pointed beard. Although it is impossible to relate it to the content of the book, it is clear that it refers to the importance of the spiritual meaning of a suffering Christ, caring for everyone.