THE HOLY GRAIL_Stories Pictures Tell. Book 8

=Questions to arouse interest.= How many of you have read Tennyson’s

_The Holy Grail_? What was the Holy Grail? Why did men seek it? Tell

what you can of Sir Galahad and his adventures.

=Original Picture=: Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

=Artist=: Edwin Austin Abbey (ăb´ĭ).

=Birthplace=: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

=Dates=: Born, 1852; died, 1911.

=The story of the picture.= When asked to decorate the walls of the

Delivery Room of the Boston Public Library Mr. Abbey planned to

represent “The Sources of Modern Literature,” thinking this would be

most appropriate, as Mr. Sargent had chosen “The Sources of the

Christian Religion” for the subject of his pictures on the walls of a

gallery on the third floor of the same building. But as Mr. Abbey read

and studied the subject he became impressed with the story of the Holy

Grail, which seemed to be woven in and out through all our literature.

He realized also that he would be the first to represent this subject in

a large decoration, and that it was altogether worthy of his best

efforts.

The paintings occupy the wall space between the wainscot and the ceiling

of this great room, where books of the library are given out and

returned. The pictures are eight feet in height, but vary in length from

the first, “The Vision,” which is six feet long, to the fifth, “The

Castle of the Grail,” which is thirty-three feet long and extends the

entire length of the north wall.

Mr. Abbey spent seven years in careful research work before he was able

to complete these paintings. He received fifteen thousand dollars for

his work.

According to an old legend, the Holy Grail was the cup from which Christ

drank at the Last Supper. It was bought from Pilate by Joseph of

Arimathæa, who caught in it the divine blood that fell from Christ’s

wounds.

Joseph placed the cup in a castle, which he kept guarded night and day.

It was passed on to his descendants, who received the charge in sacred

trust and continued to guard it faithfully. The cup itself was most

mysterious and wonderful. It could be seen only by those who were

perfectly pure in word, thought, and deed. If an evil person came near,

it was borne away as if by some invisible hand, completely disappearing

from view.

The sight of it was as food to the one to whom it was revealed and

enabled him “to live and to cause others to live indefinitely without

food,” gave him “universal knowledge,” and made him invulnerable in

battle. But there was one thing it did not do. No matter how perfect the

knight, he could still be tempted. He must continue to resist temptation

as long as he lived.

At length there came a king, keeper of the Grail, called Amfortas, the

Fisher King, who was not strong enough to resist temptation. He yielded

to an evil enchantment and was severely punished. Not only was the sight

of the Grail denied him, but a spell was cast upon him and all his court

so that they lived in a sort of trance, neither sleeping nor waking.

Thus they must remain until a knight pure in body and soul should come

to break the spell and set them free.

Little was known about the enchanted castle, where the king and his men

were held in the power of the spell, but many a young man began to plan

the quest of the Grail. He must so live that by his good thoughts and

deeds he might reach the enchanted castle, see the Holy Grail, and so

set free the unhappy knights. He must be perfect, indeed, if he would

achieve this, and full of courage, perseverance, and patience.

In our picture we see Sir Galahad, the stainless knight, who succeeds in

his quest of the Holy Grail.

Mr. Abbey has told the story in fifteen pictures, beginning with Sir

Galahad as a child.

“THE INFANCY OF GALAHAD,” OR “THE VISION”

Galahad was the son of Launcelot and Elaine, for it was according to an

old prophecy that these two should have a son who should become a great

knight and find the Holy Grail.

They placed their small son in a convent to be brought up by the nuns.

In the first picture we see the child attracted by a bright light

visible to him alone. He laughs in great delight and reaches toward the

Grail as he sees it gleaming fiery red through its veil-like covering.

It is held in the hands of an angel radiant in white as the light from

the Grail illumines her face and wings. She is supported by the wings of

doves, upon which she seems to be borne along. These doves signify the

Holy Spirit and are also represented as hovering near the Grail and

acting as informants concerning good and evil. The odor of the incense

from the Grail furnishes a mysterious sustenance to the child which

causes him to grow in mind and body. He is held high in the arms of a

sweet-faced young nun who does not see the vision but seems to feel

vaguely that some unusual event is taking place. In the original

painting the bluish black of her outer robe throws into greater

prominence the creamy white of her draperies as they, too, are flooded

with light from the Grail.

The background gives the effect of heavy tapestry and is made up of

tones of blue and white embroidered in gold. The figures of lions and

peacocks are used to signify the resurrection.

“THE OATH OF KNIGHTHOOD”

When the child had grown to manhood, Sir Launcelot was summoned to make

him a knight. In this picture we see Galahad in the convent chapel,

where he has just passed the night in prayer preparatory to his

departure out into the world.

As he kneels at the altar, he is clad in the red robe which is worn by

the hero throughout the series of pictures. Red is chosen as the color

of spiritual purity and means the “spirit cleansed by fire.” “It stands

for activity, conflict, human effort with the knowledge of good and evil

that imparts the strength to achieve the good and resist the evil.”

The honor of knighthood is conferred upon Galahad by Sir Launcelot and

Sir Bors, who can be seen in their heavy armor kneeling behind him. They

fasten the spurs upon his feet as a signal that the moment of departure

has arrived.

[Illustration:

_The Oath of Knighthood. The Holy Grail_

]

The time of day is shown by the two candles at the altar which have been

burning all night and are now burned low in their sockets, and by the

faint early light of dawn which comes stealing in through the small

windows at the left of the picture. Just behind the knights stand a

group of nuns, holding tall candles which light up the dark room and

reflect on the white robes and shining armor. The interior decoration of

the church is plainly shown. Our attention is drawn to the quaint

crucifix just back of the kneeling knights, and the figures surrounding

it.

The architecture is that of the Early Christian Romanesque. Sir

Galahad’s face is partly in shadow, as if lost in deep thought. But the

moment of departure has arrived. He will take up the helmet, which lies

near him, and leave the convent for his first glimpse of the outside

world. He must go to the wise teacher, Gurnemanz, to learn not only the

rules of knighthood but the ways of the world, before he may start on

his quest of the Holy Grail.

“THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR”

Having been fully instructed in all the ways of the world by the good

Gurnemanz, Sir Galahad starts out on his quest. First he goes to the

Round Table of King Arthur and his knights in Camelot. He finds them

holding a solemn meeting, their leader having just declared that this is

the day when, according to prophecy, the stainless knight should come

who should occupy the Siege Perilous. The Siege Perilous was a chair

over which the magician, Merlin, had cast a spell, so that no man could

sit in it without peril of death. Even Merlin himself was lost while

sitting in his own chair. Only a blameless knight could hope for safety

in this perilous seat. While Arthur and the knights are discussing the

prophecy, there suddenly appears a strange old man clothed in white,

whom none has seen before.

He comes toward the throne of King Arthur, leading Sir Galahad by the

hand. The door and windows quietly and mysteriously close of themselves;

the room is filled with a strange light. The Angel of the Grail appears

before them, and gently lifts the red drapery from the chair. The

encircling choir of angels look on silently as all read above the chair,

in letters of fire, the flaming words, “This is Galahad’s seat.”

This picture shows them at that breathless moment when the letters of

golden light appeared over the chair. King Arthur has risen from his

seat to greet Sir Galahad; a small page kneels beside the king, while

the jester half rises at the wondrous sight. Sir Galahad wears the same

red robe, fastened with a golden brown girdle—a gift from the nuns when

he was leaving the convent.

“THE DEPARTURE”

A wonderful rock of red marble has been discovered, protruding from the

surface of a river. From its side projects a shining sword which none

has been able to draw out. The king and his knights hasten to see this

sword, but none succeeds in moving it. Now Sir Galahad arrives and draws

the sword without the slightest difficulty, placing it in his empty

scabbard, where it fits exactly. He also secures a shield which had been

left for him by his ancestor, and, thus armed, he is ready to start out

in search of the Grail. Most of the knights, persuaded by this series of

strange events that Sir Galahad is to be the true knight, decide to join

him in his search.

Before they start on their long and perilous journey they gather in the

church for a final benediction. So here again we see the interior of a

church. The bishop’s hands are raised in a parting benediction over the

group of kneeling knights clad in shining armor and holding their lances

erect. Many strange banners float above them. Sir Galahad alone has

bared his head. His helmet is on the floor beside him. Other kneeling

priests may be seen just behind the bishop. The scene is one of

solemnity and dignity.

“THE CASTLE OF THE GRAIL AND THE FAILURE OF GALAHAD”

King Amfortas, keeper of the Grail, who yielded to temptation and so was

denied the sight of the Grail, and his knights, upon whom was cast a

fearful spell which was neither sleeping nor waking, anxiously await the

arrival of Galahad. But, it is not enough that he should come; he must

ask a certain question which alone can free them from their living

death.

Here we see Sir Galahad in the enchanted castle, a puzzled onlooker. He

looks silently about him at the feeble old king and his wretched

company. He sees, too, the procession of the Grail, which, although the

king and his court cannot see it, is constantly passing before them.

This procession includes the Angel, bearer of the Grail, a damsel

carrying a golden dish, two knights who carry seven-branched

candlesticks, and a knight holding a bleeding spear.

Sir Galahad must ask the meaning of what he sees and by his question

remove the enchantment. But, over-confident in his own knowledge, he

tries to solve the mystery by himself, and fails. The procession of the

Grail is shown to the right of the throne upon which King Amfortas half

sits, half reclines, while the rest of the weird company look solemnly

on as Sir Galahad stands transfixed with amazement and perplexity

because the spell is not removed as he expected. Because of his failure

to ask the necessary question, these people must continue to suffer.

Several years later he returns, a wiser man, and releases them. Personal

purity alone was not enough; wisdom was necessary, and to secure this he

must ask a certain question. He could not attain knowledge through

himself alone, but must seek it from the experience and understanding of

others.

“THE LOATHLY DAMSEL”

The next morning after his failure the castle seems deserted, but when

Galahad starts out he finds his horse saddled and waiting for him. The

drawbridge is down, so thinking perhaps the king and knights are in the

forest, he rides across the bridge in search of them. Instantly the

drawbridge closes with a crash, and there is a great sound of groaning

and of voices reproaching him for having failed in his quest. The castle

disappears from sight, and Galahad roams disconsolately in the woods.

Finally he sits down to rest and think. He is aroused by the passing of

three enchanted maidens, the Loathly Damsel and her two followers.

In the picture we see her riding a white mule richly caparisoned. Her

form suggests beauty, yet the face is ugly and distorted, her head bald

so that she must wear a hood. In her hands she carries the ghastly head

of a king wearing a crown, and she seems depressed by her burden. Forced

by the spell to go about harming mankind against her will, she is angry

with Sir Galahad for having failed to release her. In her anger she

reproaches him for not having asked the question while within the

castle, and so here for the first time Sir Galahad learns why he failed.

Once a beautiful woman, the Loathly Damsel must ride about thus

unhappily. The head and shoulders are all that is visible of the second

damsel, apparently riding. The third, dressed as a boy, carries a

scourge with which she forces the two mules onward.

Sir Galahad bows his head in silence at their reproaches, humbly feeling

that he deserves them.

Many years of sorrow and suffering must pass before he can again find

the Castle of the Grail.

“THE CONQUEST OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS”

Continually seeking the Castle of the Grail, Sir Galahad wanders about

in this enchanted land. At length, catching a glimpse of a strange

castle, he makes haste to reach it, and finds it to be the Castle of

Imprisoned Maidens. These maidens represent the Virtues; and their

jailers, the Seven Deadly Sins. Arriving at the gate of the castle, he

finds it guarded by these seven knights. A fierce conflict ensues in

which Sir Galahad is victorious. This is the only picture in the series

in which he is represented in violent physical conflict; the others

represent more of the inner spiritual conflict. The seven knights,

wearing heavy armor and carrying immense shields, are represented in

dull gray colors, while our hero, wearing his chain armor over his red

robe, is easily distinguished by the shining gold of his helmet and the

red of his shield.

“THE KEY TO THE CASTLE”

Sir Galahad defeats the seven knights but he does not slay them, and

they turn and flee. This signifies that although the seven sins can no

longer trouble the pure soul, yet they are still about in the world.

Passing the outer gate, Sir Galahad is greeted by the keeper of the

inner gate, an aged man who blesses him and gives him the key to the

castle. With helmet in hand, Sir Galahad kneels reverently before the

saintly man who greets him kindly as he holds toward him the great key.

“GALAHAD DELIVERS THE CAPTIVE VIRTUES”

Sir Galahad enters the castle and is welcomed by the maidens, who have

long been expecting him, for it was according to prophecy that a perfect

knight should come to deliver them.

Mr. Abbey has represented these maidens as most beautiful in form and

feature. They are dressed in pale colors such as blue, white, rose, and

lilac, richly embroidered with gold. Our hero is turned away from us as

he humbly receives the shyly offered gratitude of the fair maidens. His

helmet and shield may be seen on the floor beside him. In size and

importance this large picture is a sort of companion picture to the one

on the opposite side of the room, “The Round Table of King Arthur.” Both

are beautiful in color and symmetry.

“GALAHAD PARTS FROM HIS BRIDE, BLANCHEFLEUR”

Having released the imprisoned Virtues that they may go about in the

world doing good, Sir Galahad returns to King Arthur’s court and marries

the Lady Blanchefleur, to whom he had become betrothed while a pupil of

Gurnemanz.

On his wedding morning the vision of the Grail appears to him many

times, and the thought of poor old King Amfortas, awaiting the knight

who is to release him, saddens Galahad. He is seized with a great desire

to continue his quest, and finding his young bride in sympathy with his

ambition, he decides to start out that day on his journey.

The picture represents the bride Blanchefleur seated in her wedding

clothes, the wreath of roses still on her head and holding a bunch of

roses in her hands. Sir Galahad waves his hand in parting, preparatory

to donning his shield and sword, and goes forth to join the companion

waiting for him at the gate. The bride shows no signs of grief, for she

knows it is according to the prophecy that he should successfully

accomplish his quest, and she feels the high purpose which calls him.

And Galahad goes forth with renewed faith and inspiration to the final

accomplishment of his great quest.

“AMFORTAS RELEASED BY GALAHAD”

After many days he again finds the Castle of the Grail. Upon entering,

he sees the same procession passing before the unseeing eyes of the

suffering King Amfortas and his unhappy knights. As before, he cannot

understand it, but grown wiser by his hard-earned experience, he now

knows that he must ask the question. His keen sympathy for the king

brings the involuntary question to his lips, “What aileth thee, O King?

And what mean these things?” At his words the spell is broken, and all

is light and life again.

But King Amfortas wishes for nothing more in life than to be permitted

to die in peace. So in this picture we see Sir Galahad affectionately

bending over the dying Amfortas as he lifts him up that he may see the

vision of the Grail, at last made visible to him again. The Angel is

carrying it away from the castle, and it is not seen again until Sir

Galahad finally achieves it at Sarras.

“GALAHAD THE DELIVERER”

Not only has Sir Galahad released the inmates of the enchanted Castle of

the Grail, but he has removed the spell that was upon all the country

round, the Loathly Damsel, and all others. But he has not yet achieved

the Grail itself. So he starts out once more on his noble white charger,

surrounded by the grateful people, chief among them the Loathly Damsel

who so bitterly upbraided him at his first failure. Now restored to

beauty and virtue, she is kneeling in the foreground of the picture.

The hero rides erect, carrying his banner, and looking straight ahead.

We see the houses of the people in the background, and catch a glimpse

of the sea toward which Sir Galahad rides.

“THE VOYAGE TO SARRAS,” OR “SOLOMON’S SHIP”

According to the legend it was in the time of the wise King Solomon that

a ship of mysterious and wonderful workmanship had been built. Just as

King Solomon was about to go on board strange letters of fire, written

in the air by an angel, warned him not to enter. As he stepped back, the

ship suddenly started off by itself and disappeared out to sea. In some

miraculous way it had been kept all these years to fulfill its destiny

and bring Sir Galahad to Sarras, where he should achieve the Grail. And

so, coming to the shore of the sea, he finds there the ship waiting for

him. Little is known of the city of Sarras, except that it is supposed

to have been in the Holy Land, and that this was the place where the

Holy Grail was to be found.

In the picture is represented the voyage to Sarras on King Solomon’s

ship. It is a frail-looking ship, guided by the Angel of the Grail,

guarding her treasure. Two knights, Percival and Bors, have been

permitted to go with Sir Galahad on this journey. They cannot see the

Grail itself, having sinned once, yet their faith and persistent search

have made it possible for them to go with him.

“THE CITY OF SARRAS”

When they arrived at the city of Sarras, Sir Galahad’s shield was at

once recognized, and the voyagers were treated as holy men. The knights

went about doing good, and through the power given them by their purity

they were enabled to heal the sick and the crippled.

The news of their good works aroused the jealousy and anger of the

wicked king of that country, who cast the three knights into prison.

Here they were fed by the Holy Grail. The wicked king grew very ill and

at last sent for them, begging their mercy. Scarcely had they granted it

when the king died. The whole city proclaimed Galahad king.

So here in this picture we see Galahad’s sword and shield laid aside,

his adventures over. Three ships are anchored in the bay of the quiet

city, and the tall buildings with their stately towers are surrounded by

a great red wall.

“THE GOLDEN TREE AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE GRAIL”

Galahad had been king of Sarras over a year when sailing one day, in his

ship, he prayed that “when he might ask it, he should pass out of this

world.” He is promised that his request will be granted and that then he

shall see the Holy Grail unveiled.

In this picture the Golden Tree signifies his work on earth completed.

As he kneels and makes his request, his sword and shield, now useless,

fall from him and the Grail is revealed to his sight. Seven angels with

wings of crimson surround him. The Grail is borne heavenward, never to

be seen again on earth. Divine wisdom has been attained.

=Questions to help the pupil understand the picture.= Where are the

original paintings? Why did Mr. Abbey choose this subject? What

preparation did he make before he painted these pictures? What was the

legend of the Holy Grail? What power did the Holy Grail not have? What

happened to King Amfortas? Why did Sir Galahad wish to find the Grail?

What was required of the knight who should find it? What preparation did

Sir Galahad make? What strange events made the other knights decide to

follow Sir Galahad? Why did Sir Galahad fail when he reached the Castle

of the Grail? How did his failure affect the people about him? Tell

about the conquest of the Seven Deadly Sins. What became of the seven

sins, and what does that signify? Tell about Sir Galahad’s final

success.

=To the Teacher=: Pupils may be asked to prepare and give orally short

descriptions of at least one picture; class discussions should be

encouraged.

After the entire series has been studied, pupils may choose one of the

pictures as a subject for English composition work. They will be

interested in reading Tennyson’s _Sir Galahad_, _The Holy Grail_, or

other selections from the _Idylls of the King_.

=The story of the artist.= Mr. Edwin Austin Abbey was born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is one of the few great American artists

who has won fame both at home and abroad. Living in Philadelphia, he

attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, which he left at the age

of nineteen to enter the art department of Harper and Brothers, New York

City. His first success came as an illustrator for their publications.

It was through the Harpers, too, that he went to England, for they sent

him there to gather material for some poems which they wished him to

illustrate. He was especially interested in literary subjects, and while

in England prepared many of his best illustrations, among them those for

Shakespeare’s comedies and for Goldsmith’s _She Stoops to Conquer_.

His water colors and pastels were also very popular. His most important

work in oils—“The Holy Grail,” is in the United States. When this

picture was almost finished he went, at the request of King Edward VII,

to paint a picture of the coronation. The groups of figures, with their

elaborate costumes and rich coloring, offered every inducement to one

who so loved these things. Mr. Abbey became very popular in England. He

received many medals, and all possible honors both at home and abroad.