The two guys appear to be stranded on an island, Hope-ing to be picked up, pointing and praying to where the star (Stella Maris) would be expected, where instead we find the word CHARITAS. mjh Yes, that makes sense. There are a few stories like that in churches around here, recounting miraculous re...

"Ecce homo" images seem to be the inspiration for this figure, but there are differences - there are no streaks of blood on him (that can be seen anymore, at least) and he appears more truly triumphant than triumphant in humility of the standard Ecce homo tradition. Also in the main tradit...

That's possible too - I just wonder about there being only one "flower" at the end. It has to mean something , that's for sure. I'm confident there is a tradition for this image/style of Jesus, and it must be present in other places in the south of France, perhaps more towards Avignon, Mar...

And what is the plant he is holding? A reed (it looks like a bullrush)? http://www.rosscaldwell.com/images/tarotart/stjacquesbaton.jpg I'll bet this Jesus is a very specific iconographical tradition, "the giver of life" or something, which if we could locate it might give us one with a lea...

Christ seems to be wearing the crown of thorns - the green band around his head seem to be entwined branches typical of representations of the crown.

But of course, there is no contradiction between Christ and Adam... as Christ is described as the second Adam. So the loin cloth as leaves indicates the perfect human being in Christ, and the aureole, mantle and four evangelists confirms the representation as Christ. I thought of this too, but I ca...

The early painted cards show gender pairing was important to the 'scheme' from early on; I think it more probable the other way round, a misunderstood or offensive popesse was turned into a second pope. Sure gender pairing was important from early on. Arguing which way of development was more proba...

Yes, you're right Eugim. I was under the impression that he was bearded, perhaps from a later image that put a beard on him. I can't find it now, but it does seem that contemporary images like yours show him beardless, so he should be considered to have not worn a beard.

The site I linked doesn't show Eugene IV, Pope from 1431 to 1447, but he is also generally shown with quite a full beard (they have the "antipope" Felix V (1439 - 1449) though, the one that looks like Osama bin Laden).

Here are the other carvings on the retable - I don't know what story they might be telling, but it could be that this was offered to the Church as a votive after some miracle, perhaps shown by the brothers entering the burning building on the first panel. http://www.rosscaldwell.com/images/tarotart/...