Need info on mysterious picture
August 6, 2011 4:39 PM   Subscribe

Can anyone tell me something about this picture?

clicky

Someone I know found this and we were curious as to what it was
posted by zorro astor to Media & Arts (16 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Maybe try Google Goggles?
posted by mark7570 at 4:48 PM on August 6, 2011


Well the google search by image thingi doesn't know what it is, so I doubt its very famous picture.
posted by jourman2 at 5:02 PM on August 6, 2011


I want to say, based on the sword, that this may be James, Son of Zebedee. It's explicitly referenced in the New Testament that he was put to death with the sword.
posted by xingcat at 5:23 PM on August 6, 2011


Found it where? - It looks to me like the corpse is wearing modern-ish shoes and clothes (trousers, open shirt (cuffs?), undershirt ...
posted by carter at 5:34 PM on August 6, 2011


The four living men struck me as Franciscans (friars?)--but that may be a free association with William of Ockham and Umberto Eco...
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:38 PM on August 6, 2011


Based on the style of habit and tonsure (as well as the Rosary held by the friar on the far right) I'm pretty sure they're Dominicans.
posted by Cortes at 5:45 PM on August 6, 2011


Oh, the priests led me to St. Placid the Martyr.
posted by xingcat at 5:49 PM on August 6, 2011


The dead guy doesn't look at all saintly to me. More like some young nobleman (note nice boots and cloak) who's been waylaid by robbers or assassins near a monastery and the monks have come out to check on him and look pious.

Probably an illustration to a story but I have no idea which one.
posted by interplanetjanet at 5:54 PM on August 6, 2011


Yeah it looks a bit like a plate from a novel to me.
posted by carter at 6:04 PM on August 6, 2011


Response by poster: A little background, the picture was found in an old frame behind another picture.
posted by zorro astor at 6:32 PM on August 6, 2011


Dimensions? Just wondering ...
posted by carter at 6:58 PM on August 6, 2011


Response by poster: I don't know unfortunately, not large, a rather normal sized picture frame. I have not seen the pic, but the story was conveyed to me.
posted by zorro astor at 7:09 PM on August 6, 2011


Reason is, I'm still wondering if it was cut from a book ...
posted by carter at 7:15 PM on August 6, 2011


I found this site which notes how saints (including Dominicans) were represented. I searched on sword, but didn't find anything that seemed right. Perhaps someone else might find something useful.
posted by b33j at 7:19 PM on August 6, 2011


Response by poster: This was drawn on the bacl
http://i.imgur.com/S4kKl.jpg
posted by zorro astor at 7:27 PM on August 6, 2011


I'm not sure exactly where it would fit into the plot, but possibly an illustration from The Captain from Castile, if only because the lead friar looks a bit like Bartolomé de las Casas.
posted by notquitemaryann at 8:32 PM on August 6, 2011


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