# Can anyone tell me what is depicted in this picture? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783 "2011-08-06T23:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/61 "2011-08-10T11:48:08Z")
Since the [back side](http://i.imgur.com/S4kKl.jpg) of the paper was originally blank, and has doodlings drawn on it that are somewhat related to the theme (a guy with a sword through him, at least) it seems less likely it was torn from a book. It’s possible someone tore it from a book and doodled on the back of the page themselves before framing it, but my guess is the doodling on the back is probably also by the same artist. I notice the letters “ent” in modern typeface near the bottom left corner. What’s that all about? It also looks like there could be a blurry signature or some writing near the bottom left. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/62 "2011-08-10T12:01:08Z")
I’m going with the consensus that it’s a scene of some monks coming across a dying or recently dead man who’s fallen victim to violence in the country. The dying man looks pale in comparison to the others, suggesting that he’s bled out from a stabbing wound - presumably the blade on the ground is the murder weapon. The kneeling one is checking for a heartbeat, the one with the bottle has administered some sort of medicine (ether? smelling salt?), the second kneeling one is praying for his soul. The one with his hand on his chin is the senior of the group, watching with a sort of disaffected interest. I don’t think the two figures in the background are part of the same party, nor are they the murderers. They’re drawn sort of transparent - their cloaks seem to bleed directly into the background behind them. I think they must be ghostly figures observing the death of the fallen man for their own reasons - perhaps they’re departed family members, or they were members of the same order as the attending monks, or perhaps they themselves died in that same region. I don’t know much about (botany?), but i’d guess from the grass and the trees and the rocky outcroppings that the scene is set in the summer somewhere in southern Europe - Italy or Spain, perhaps. I have no idea if there’s an actual event or legend this picture could be portraying, but all in all it’s well drawn and pretty evocative. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/63 "2011-08-11T08:23:33Z")
Does this look like polterwang to you? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/64 "2011-08-11T15:48:10Z")
Is there a scene in any of the _Three Musketeers_ books like this? ISTR there were sometimes Catholic friars in attendance at duels to give last rites. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/65 "2011-08-11T16:37:39Z")
IMHO, the seated figure roughly in the middle of the back of the page looks like a bishop, cardinal, or even a Pope, especially since there seems to be a canopy over the chair. The other sketches on the back are consistent with a swordsman, which in turn is consistent with the dead swordsman in the main or more-finished picture, but the figure in the chair is different and thus presumably another clue. A clue to what, I don’t know. :smack:😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/66 "2011-08-11T17:02:35Z")
"Jesus appeared in a shaft of light and exclaimed, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” and struck him blind. Ah yes, our kind, forgiving and loving Jesus. Whata Guy! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/67 "2011-08-11T17:43:59Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > "Jesus appeared in a shaft of light and exclaimed, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” and struck him blind. > Ah yes, our kind, forgiving and loving Jesus. Whata Guy! :rolleyes: Hmm. Didn’t read the whole story, didja? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/68 "2011-08-11T18:03:15Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > "Jesus appeared in a shaft of light and exclaimed, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” and struck him blind. > Ah yes, our kind, forgiving and loving Jesus. Whata Guy! :rolleyes: [Moderator Note] **Jake** , you’ve been around long enough to know that religious jabs are not permitted in General Questions. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/69 "2011-08-11T18:05:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But the folks being called out as Dominicans don’t look like they’re wearing sandals, either. In fact, the one who looks as if he’s pondering whether the dead guy’s boots would fit him appears to be wearing saddle shoes. You’re right. They are evidently from the Hipster suborder of Dominicans.😉 ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/70 "2011-08-11T18:23:08Z")
"In this episode of Friar House…’ ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/71 "2011-08-11T21:11:01Z")
For some reason, it makes me think Don Quixote, but there isn’t much in the image to support that over any other injured swordsman. > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Am I the only one who sees the weapon on the ground as a knife and not a sword or lance? > > Not sure if that makes a difference, but it looks like the loser of a knife fight. I have no idea of the significance of it being a knife vs. a sword. The blade is awfully short for a dagger, but I’ve never seen a dagger with the handle/guard that is there. My first assumption was a broken sword, which implies a recent fight and that the injured/dead man is the casualty. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/72 "2011-08-11T23:56:35Z")
the sword looks 16th century or even later (same with the boots.) it was a clean kill with the victim falling backwards flat, away from his weapon. it may have been a quick duel or an ambush with a firearm. the monks look like they were walking (slowly) and there are even two onlookers in the background. they are checking for breathing or a heartbeat. that means the body is still warm and they may have witnessed the killing. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/73 "2011-08-12T01:14:18Z")
It looks like a depiction of the Good Samaritan. > [@](#): > > Luke: 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ---
**Author:** ![buckgully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@buckgully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buckgully)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/74 "2011-08-12T01:49:43Z")
I’m going to take a somewhat wild guess that the doodles on the back are someone’s attempts (possibly a child) at teaching themselves how to draw, and that they’re possibly copied off of illustrations from the same book this was taken from. The picture may have been framed to make studying it easier, after the doodles were made on it. I desaturated the image so it wasn’t all brown and then tried the google image search again, but that didn’t turn up anything useful. Maybe it’s an early storyboard for “CSI: Barcelona 1695”. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/75 "2011-08-12T04:17:28Z")
> [@deb2world](#): > > It looks like a depiction of the Good Samaritan. How so? In the story of the Good Samaritan, the religious men (priest and Levite) avoid the injured man, while the despised Samaritan helps him. Here the religious men, the Dominicans, are doing their best to help the victim. There is no figure equivalent to the Samaritan on the scene. The only thing the illustration has in common with the story of the Good Samaritan is the finding of a victim of violence in the road. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/76 "2011-08-12T09:28:29Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is there a scene in any of the _Three Musketeers_ books like this? ISTR there were sometimes Catholic friars in attendance at duels to give last rites. That rings a distant campanile. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/77 "2011-08-12T14:53:26Z")
> [@buckgully](#): > > I’m going to take a somewhat wild guess that the doodles on the back are someone’s attempts (possibly a child) at teaching themselves how to draw, and that they’re possibly copied off of illustrations from the same book this was taken from… Interesting thought. If we assume that’s correct, then does the woman on the throne give a clue as to what the story was? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/78 "2011-08-12T15:11:03Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > Was [Father Dowling Mysteries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Dowling_Mysteries) based on a book? 😃 More like Cadfael, although Cadfael was a Benedictine. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/79 "2011-08-12T16:15:34Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > The other sketches on the back are consistent with a swordsman, which in turn is consistent with the dead swordsman in the main or more-finished picture I think the figures on the back are holding pistols, not swords. It’s especially obvious on the second one in the first row. Also it doesn’t look like a child’s work. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783/80 "2011-08-12T16:55:07Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > I think the figures on the back are holding pistols, not swords. It’s especially obvious on the second one in the first row. Also it doesn’t look like a child’s work. I still think it looks like there is a signature or something written, down near the lower left on the back. Just to the right of the figure of a woman, going up and to the right from the bottom of the page. But the scan is too low resolution to be able to see for sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-what-is-depicted-in-this-picture/591783.md?page=5)