Faldoni, parts 2876 - 2879

 2876. The mistake in question you might remember involved some figures in a procession. The top of the figures appeared above a horse’s back, and the lower portion of the figures could be seen under the horse’s belly. The clothing on these various figures had become confused and the legs and feet of one was mixed up with the coat and tunic of another.

 2877. The clothing, it will be remembered, in these processional paintings of the time, represented the family heraldic colors of the various donors who had provided the funds for the painting commission. 

 2878. These donors had a very literal and distinctly personal attitude toward the painting, and when some of them heard that there was a mistake in the picture involving family heraldic colors, they felt moved to come and have a look to see what it was all about.

 

 2879. The painting in question was one of those subjects popular at the time, depicting a procession which preceded the crucifixion of Christ, and the mistake turned out to be a very serious one. The clothing of the confused figures happened to put the legs and the feet of a villainous personage on the body of pious spectator.