Painting of the crucifix described in the letter of the Suprema to the inquisition in Valencia
Year mention: 3. October 1571
Subject:
Crucifix ; Schola Cordis
Conflict:
Lutheran
Criticism:

This painting of the Crucifix, although it may carry some good representation, is suspect of suggesting that the prayer made in mortal sin is always hypocrisy and sin

Agent:
Inquisition

In the first part of the letter, a painting of the crucifix is described. This painting, although it may carry some good representation, is suspect of suggesting that the prayer made in mortal sin is always hypocrisy and sin

“According to the doctrine of the images imposed by the Latin preaching, the errors of Lutheran principles are sometimes maliciously insinuated and sometimes not so much, and this is the summary made by decree of the lords judges in the supreme council against the perversity of heresy and the misappropriation of the sacred Bible, as can be seen under the end of the preface to the censorship of the Bible. Of the canvas of the Crucifixion. This painting, although it could have some good representation, is suspected of implying that prayer made in mortal sin is always hypocrisy and sin, which the vulgar will understand by this painting, and thus the sinner will be given occasion to pray in such a state and not to pray, but rather to think that he offends God in it. Therefore it seems to us that this painting should not be allowed to go (…) The painting of the Crucifixion has a crucifix with a glow around it and, at its feet, an altar with two candlesticks and, between the crucifix and the candlesticks, on the altar is a letter that says “ego, Dominus, scrutans cor et provans renes” Hieremias 17. On the altar there is one who prays without a ball cape, from which comes a coloured thread that ends in a heart that falls below the left side of the crucifix with a letter above the one who prays that reads: “Spiritus est, Deus et eos qui adorant eum in spiritus et veritate oportet adorare “, Joan 4, below the other letter that says: “sed venit hora, et nunc est, quoniam veri adoratores adorabunt Patrem in Spiritu et veritate “, Joan 4. Behind this one who thus adores, there is another one who adores very much adorned with a single knee on a very rich cushion, from the mouth of which come out many coloured threads which each one ends in his heart, placed on different things or worldly business and none of them ends up on the crucifix, he has above him a letter that says: “nolite concupiscere, divitie si affluant, cor apponere”, Psalmo 61, “non potestis Deo servire”, Joan 4, and below, behind the other letter, in a square at the corner of the canvas that says “bene propheticavit Esayas de vobis hypocritis, sicut scriptum est: populus hic labys me onorat, cor autem eorum longe est a me “, Marco 7, and a letter with which the whole lienço is finished off in a continued line which reads “et dilexerunt eum in ore suo et lingua sua mentiti, cor autem eorum non erat rectum cum eo “, Psalmo 27. (…)”.

“In doctrina imaginum, latino sermone posita, in voluntur velut in suma errores lutheranorum praecipui quorum nonnulli versute implicantur, alii non tam obsciere, et haec epitome eadem est, cum hei quae iussu dominorum, qui in supremo senatu iudices sunt contra hereticam pravitatem et sacris bibliis detracta est, sicut videre est sub finem prefactionis in censuram bibliorum. Del lienço del Crucifixo. Este lienço aunque podría tener alguna salida de buena representación mas, pone sospecha de dar a entender que la oración hecha en peccado mortal es siempre hypocresía y peccado, lo qual entenderá el vulgo por esta pintura y ansi se le dará occasión al peccat que estando en tal estado no haga oración y antes piensa ofende a Diós en ella. Por lo qual nos paresce no se deve permitir ande esta pintura (…) El lienço del Crucifixo tiene un crucifixo con un resplandor alrededor y, a los pies, un altar con dos candeleros e, entre el crucifixo y los candeleros, en el altar está una letra que dice «ego, Dominus, scrutans cor et provans renes » Hieremias 17. Cabe el altar está uno que ora sin capa de la bola, dal qual sale un hilo colorado que se remata en un coraçón que cae debaxo al lado isquierdo del crucifixo con una letra encima del que ora que dise: «Spiritus est, Deus et eos qui adorant eum in spiritus et veritate oportet adorare », Joan 4, abaxo del otra letra que dice: «sed venit hora, et nunc est, quoniam veri adoratores adorabunt Patrem in Spiritu et veritate », Joan 4. Tras este que assí adora, está uno otro que adora muy ataviado con la una sola rodilla encima de cojín muy rico, de la voca del qual salen muchos hilos colora dos que se rematan cada uno en su coraçón, puesto sobre diversas cossas o negocios mundanos y ninguno viene a parar al crucifixo, tiene encima una letra que dise: «nolite concupiscere, divitie si affluant, cor apponere », Psalmo 61, «non potestis Deo servire », Joan 4, y abajo, detrás del otra letra, en un quadro a la esquina del lienço que dice «bene propheticavit Esayas de vobis hypocritis, sicut scriptum est: populus hic labys me onorat, cor autem eorum longe est a me », Marco 7, y una letra con que se remata todo el lienço en un ringlón prosiguido que dise «et dilexerunt eum in ore suo et lingua sua mentiti, cor autem eorum non erat rectum cum eo », Psalmo 27. (…)”.

Terminology
sospecha
Date mention
3. October 1571

Historical Location

Valencia

Valencia


Iconclass Number
11Q71432

Source
AHUV. Caja 16, Varia, fols. 272r-274v.
Permanent Link
https://www.sacrima.eu/case/painting-of-the-crucifix-described-in-the-letter-of-the-suprema-to-the-inquisition-in-valencia/